FIRST AUSTRALIAN WINNER FOR AMERICAN PHAROAH 10 Feb 2021 09:20
US Horse Of The Year, and Triple Crown winner, American Pharoah came up
with his first Australian winner when his son Head Of State won at Warwick Farm
on Wednesday.
A winner at the early season trials, the Chris Waller trained colt Head
of State caught the eye with a late charging fifth behind Sneaky Five in the
$1million ATC Golden Gift when making his debut last November and was
immediately spelled with bigger autumn races in mind.
Tuned up with two recent trials, the powerhouse colt was a hot favourite
in the 1300m maiden and was a class above, powering clear under James McDonald
to win by two lengths.
Head of State, an $850 000 yearling buy, was the most expensive yearling
by his sire sold in Australia in 2020, purchased by Tom Magnier from the Lime
Country Thoroughbreds draft at Magic Millions.
Already sire of G1 winners Harvey’s Lil Goil and Van Gogh, American
Pharoah has had just five runners in Australia and New Zealand for two
place-getters and now an impressive winner in Head of State that has stakes
goals on his agenda.