American Pharoah was provided with a first European group 1 winner Oct. 24 when the Aidan O'Brien-trained Van Gogh routed his rivals on heavy ground by four lengths under Pierre-Charles Boudot in the Criterium International (G1) at Saint-Cloud.
Bred by Barronstown Stud, the imposing juvenile colt hails from a blue-blooded family, being out of the Entenmanns Irish One Thousand Guineas (G1) and Vodafone Epsom Oaks (G1) winner Imagine. She herself is a daughter of the great Sadler's Wells and a sister to the stakes-winning Strawberry Roan, as well as a relation of dual Derby hero Generous.
Imagine has proven an equally top-class broodmare, producing nine winners, five of whom have gained black type, including the ill-fated Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1) winner Horatio Nelson, group 2 scorer Viscount Nelson, and Rockfel Stakes victress Kitty Matcham.
Van Gogh is from the second crop of 2015 American Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, who will stand at Ashford Stud for a reduced fee of $100,000 in 2021, and his second individual top-level scorer after Harvey's Lil Goil landed the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Dixiana (G1T) at Keeneland this month.
Despite his dirt-based pedigree, the son of Pioneerof the Nile has been represented in Europe by a handful of stakes performers, including Bet365 Park Hill Stakes (G2) heroine Pista, also second to Wonderful Tonight in the Qatar Prix de Royallieu (G1), listed victor Ocean Atlantique, and Connolly's Redmills Prix du Bois (G3) winner Maven.
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