First runner for Triple Crown hero American Pharoah to be unleashed at Naas

Monarch Of Egypt will become the first runner sired by Triple Crown hero American Pharoah when the two-year-old lines up for Aidan O'Brien in the opening contest of Naas's Saturday card, the 5f Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race.

The late-March foal is due to be ridden by Ryan Moore and will run in the two-tone green silks of Peter Brant, who owns the colt with the Coolmore partners after his White Birch Farm and MV Magnier went to $750,000 to purchase the youngster at last year's Keeneland September Sale.

Monarch Of Egypt in the Keeneland sales ring as a yearlingCredit: Keeneland

American Pharoah, a son of the late Pioneerof The Nile, may have done most of his racing on dirt, but the female side of Monarch Of Egypt's pedigree is packed full of talented turf runners.

He is the third foal out of Up, a daughter of Galileo and the Spectrum mare Halland Park Lass who won the Group 2 Blandford Stakes at three, having also finished runner-up to Beauty Parlour in the French 1,000 Guineas.

Despite his parents' success during their Classic seasons, there also appears to be plenty of precocity in Monarch Of Egypt's pedigree. It should not be overlooked that American Pharoah was a dual Grade 1 winner at two, claiming the FrontRunner Stakes and the Del Mar Futurity, while Up is a half-sister to Middle Park Stakes and Prix Morny victor Dutch Art.

Aidan O'Brien: trainer of Monarch Of EgyptCredit: Patrick McCann

Monarch Of Egypt was bred by Ran Jan Racing, who enjoyed extraordinary success as a breeder in Europe last year with champion three-year-old Roaring Lion. Up was added to the Ran Jan Racing broodmare band when bought with Jan Vandebos for $2.2 million at Keeneland in January 2015.

The colt is not the only progeny of American Pharoah housed at Ballydoyle, with Weatherbys' records indicating that the Triple Crown winner has four two-year-olds under the care of O'Brien. The others are: Hong Kong, a half-brother to Caravaggio bought for $1m; South Saqqara, a $300,000 half-brother to Queen Mary Stakes winner Acapulco; and an unnamed half-brother to Chachamaidee and J Wonder.

That list does not include the filly out of Shawara, who Magnier indicated was likely to head to Ballydoyle having secured her for €750,000 at last year's Arqana August Sale. Having signed that six-figure docket, Magnier said that Coolmore had a long-held belief that American Pharoah's progeny could prove successful on turf.

He said: "My grandfather founded Ballydoyle on American dirt horses - that's where Galileo comes from, that's where Sadler's Wells came from. It all goes back to the American Classic horse, and we strongly believe in American Pharoah. He really could be the next big thing.

Coolmore's MV Magnier (right) with Paul Shanahan at the Arqana August SaleCredit: Patrick McCann

"Be it him, or Justify, we think that a horse of that type can once again have a transforming impact on European bloodlines. So that's what we want to do; to get the best American Pharoahs we can, put them in Ballydoyle, and try to make him a new Northern Dancer. Remember Scat Daddy was an all-American hero, too, and look what he has been able to do on turf in Europe."

Those who follow the line of thought that Coolmore reserve the strongest names for their brightest prospects will be interested to note that Monarch Of Egypt had previously been given the moniker Horus Bird.

Other progeny of American Pharoah with European trainers according to Weatherbys include the John Gosden-trained Good Fortune, a half-brother to Giovanni Boldini bought by Qatar Racing for $800,000, while Charlie Appleby has taken charge of the colts out of Joyful Victory and Kindle - the latter-named the most expensive American Pharoah yearling to sell at public auction having cost Godolphin $2.2m.