American Pharoah's Sisterhood Strolls Home at Pakenham

Mark Smith - Thursday March 9

There might be a good race in the not-too-distant future for the American Pharoah (USA) filly Sisterhood after she treated her rivals with contempt in a 3yo fillies maiden over 1200m at Pakenham on Thursday.

Sisterhood shows then a clean pair of heels (image Scott Barbour/Racing Photos)

Punters were on the money, sending out Sisterhood an odd-on favourite following her fast-finishing second on debut over a 1000m on the same track.

Ridden by Teo Nugent for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Sisterhood travelled sweetly outside the leader Frosted Romance.

Advertisement

The Dorrington Farm homebred was strong to the line in defeating the Deep Field filly Alletante by two and a half lengths, with the Hellbent debutant Hell Follows a further one and three-quarter lengths back in third.

Sisterhood's owner/breeder Rob Crabtree said the filly's breeding suggests she will only improve when the distances stretch out.

"She is an American Pharoah out of a Makfi mare who is out of a Monsun mare," Crabtree revealed.

Teo Nugent agreed the filly had a bright future.

"She got a long way back at her first start; she was a little new and raw. But the way she found the line, the sectionals suggested she could come here and be hard to beat, and so she was," Nugent said.

"She began well, and I played my cards early. A couple of non-fancied runners were going to slot in front, and I wanted to hold my spot outside the leader.

Sisterhood is a powerhouse (image Scott Barbour/Racing Photos)

"I could have put her anywhere in the race, and it is a shame she had nothing to go with her,

"We hit the front a long way out. She was dominant, but I don't doubt she could have doubled or tripled the margin.

"She has a motor; when I pressed the button, she extended nicely.

"She will get over more ground and showed great progression from her first to the second start.

"We have a nice horse on our hands. When I galloped her, she felt like an open-class sprinter."

Sisterhood is the second foal of the Makfi (GB) mare Not Only Florina (IRE), who won three consecutive races at three in France, culminating in a Listed race over 10f at Toulouse.

She made two starts in Australia for David Hayes when carrying Rob Crabtree's red and white checks and trailed the field home both times.  

World Wide Bloodstock / Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott shelled out $160,000 for a So You Think half-sister to Sisterhood consigned by Blue Gum Farm at the recent Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

From the family of the Hong King fan favourite Pakistan Star, Not Only Florina (IRE) foaled a King's Legacy last spring and visited St Mark's Basilica (FR).

Advertisment

Race Result - John Duff & Co Mdn Plate 1200m

Pakenham Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:11.98
1
Sisterhood
- 3f American Pharoah (USA) x Not Only Florina (IRE) (Makfi (GB))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Teodore Nugent 57
2
2.5
Alletante
- 3f Deep Field (AUS) x Invitante (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: C I Brown Rdr: Ben Allen 57
3
4.3
Hell Follows
- 3f Hellbent (AUS) x Come Follow Me (AUS) (Mossman (AUS))
Tnr: S P Nichols Rdr: C Newitt 57
4
4.4
Piera Maria
- 3f Smart Missile (AUS) x Our Gift To You (NZ) (Don Eduardo (NZ))
Tnr: Shane Stockdale Rdr: Thomas Stockdale 57
5
4.8
Poiema
- 3f Territories (IRE) x Isabeau (AUS) (Domesday (AUS))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: B Mc Dougall 57
6
4.9
Frosted Romance
- 3f Frosted (USA) x Parisian Romance (AUS) (Danzero (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Trotter Rdr: Jack Hill 57
7
5.0
Blue Chip Girl
- 3f American Pharoah (USA) x She's A Fox (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: M M Laurie Rdr: D Moor 57
8
6.8
Showno
- 3f Star Witness (AUS) x Mercy May (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: J D Sadler Rdr: L Nolen 57
9
12.8
Tottenham Hotspur
- 3f Holler (AUS) x White Hart Lane (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: Shawn Mathrick Rdr: Zac Spain 57
10
16.8
Amerdonnas
- 3f Americain (USA) x Donna Bella (AUS) (Domesday (AUS))
Tnr: M Croston & G Gilmour Rdr: B Higgins 57
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Monday October 27
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch – Sha Tin – You Don’t See That Every Day!
The Mark Newnham stable has been on fire in Hong Kong since the start of the new season and the former Sydney trainer produced a super promising winner at Sha Tin on Sunday by Capitalist that did everything wrong and miraculously still won the race!
From FNQ To Sha Tin - Aussie Bred Sprinter Wins G2 Premier Bowl
Some horses arrive in Hong Kong with a very different back story - Fresh from winning the $20million The Everest with Ka Ying Rising, David Hayes was back in the winner’s list at Sha Tin on Sunday when Tomodachi Kokoroe won the Group II Premier Bowl (1200m).
New Cup Goal for Wolfgang
It may not be the Cup target they were aiming for, but Wolfgang put himself firmly into Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) calculations following his victory in the SkyCity Hamilton Waikato Cup Prelude (2400m) at Te Rapa on Monday.
Rewarding Weekend for Waikato Stud
A double strike at stakes level, a filly with a black-type future and a welcome family success handed Waikato Stud another rewarding weekend.
Pedigree Potential –NZB Ready to Run – Nicks that Click
A quality packed catalogue for the 2025 NZB Ready to Run Sale (November 12 and 13) is online with breeze up video now in place and in the lead up to the sale we’ll go looking each week for some horses of interest that jump out on pedigree for various reasons.
Melbourne Cup Dream Alive for Kiwi Stayers
Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) dreams are still alive for connections of Kiwi stayers Mark Twain and Trav.
Impressive First winner for Armory
Mapperley Stud stallion Armory recorded his first winner on Sunday when his two-year-old daughter Silhouette raced to a dominant victory in the Fusion Electrical Two-Year-Old (900m) at Trentham.
First Winner for King of Comedy
Novara Park Stud stallion King Of Comedy (IRE) is on the board as a sire, with his son Sir Ruby becoming his first winner when victorious over 1300m at Selangor Turf Club in Malaysia on Sunday.
Wootton Bassett and Camelot 2YO Colts Win Final French Group Ones
The last French Group I races of their flat season were run on Sunday and Aidan O’Brien produced the winners of both the Group I Criterium International (1600m) and Group I Criterium de Saint Cloud (1800m).