$850,000 American Pharoah Colt Highlights First Season Sires

The first Australian bred yearlings by Triple Crown hero American Pharoah were in hot demand at the Gold Coast on Wednesday during the first session of the Magic Millions Yearling Sale with a colt from Derelique selling for $850,000 to record the single highest result for a first season sire.

The star colt was consigned by Lime Country Thoroughbreds and bought by Tom Magnier.

Bred by Brad Crismale, the colt is a half-brother to Group II winner Man From Uncle and is the sixth foal from Danehill Dancer mare Derelique, who has a filly to follow by American Pharoah and went to So You think last spring.

Earlier in the day American Pharoah also hit the heights with a colt from Azumi fetching $750,000.

Consigned by Segenhoe Stud, the handsome bay is a half-brother to Group III placed High Spirit and is the ninth foal of unraced Encosta de Lago mare Azumi, a full sister to Champion Filly Alinghi.

Bred by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, he caught the eye of Team Hawkes with Wayne Hawkes offering his thoughts after the sale.

“We though he was probably a 600K horse, but when we saw Coolmore bidding on him that gave us a bit more confidence,” Hawkes told Sky Racing.

“We loved him from the first time we saw him. Sometimes there is a big difference between what you want at a sale and what you get, but he was one we really wanted.

“American Pharoah has done such a good job overseas and a lot of his winners are on turf. He’s low flying a bit here and he still has to do it, but we like him and will be happy to buy more of them this year.”

American Pharoah has been very well supported by Australian breeders covering 441 mares in his first three seasons at a fee of $66,000.

The Champion North American First Crop Sire of 2019, he had nine yearlings average $331,111 on the first day of the sale.