Constitution's immense promise reflects turning point in career of sire Tapit

In ending 2019 as North America’s leading first-crop sire, American Pharoah realised those hopes held for him.

The first horse to sweep the American Triple Crown in 37 years, the Ashford Stud stallion received a wealth of well-connected mares in his debut season, as befitted a horse then standing for $200,000, and now appears to be on the road to justifying the hype with a first crop that includes 28 winners across an international spectrum led by Grade 2 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint hero Four Wheel Drive.

And although the archetypal dirt performer himself, early evidence - think Four Wheel Drive alongside his Group/Grade 1-placed progeny Monarch Of Egypt and Sweet Jessamine - suggests that he is developing into a very effective turf sire, something that naturally makes him increasingly interesting from an European perspective.