First American Pharoah-sired runner to debut Saturday

The 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharaoh is expected to have his first sired starter at the races Saturday when Monarch of Egypt heads postward at Naas Racecourse in Kildare, Ireland.

The 2-year-old colt, initially named Horus Bird when he was entered but not declared in another race last week, is out of the Group 2-winning Galileo mare Up. A March 31 foal, he hammered for $750,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale for owners Coolmore and Peter Brant.

As of Friday afternoon, Paddy Power listed Monarch of Egypt as a 5-6 favorite facing eight rivals.

Said handicapper Gary Carson: "Coolmore will be hoping their investment in the Triple Crown hero can pay dividends, and the fact that this son of Group 2 winner Up has been chosen as his first representative you would have to assume that he is pretty well forward."

Saturday's race, the first on Naas' card, goes at 9:20 a.m. ET at five furlongs on synthetic. Ryan Moore has the mount for trainer Aidan O'Brien. Monarch of Egypt will wear Brant's green silks.

American Pharaoh’s first crop includes more than 30 2-year-olds that have been named so far and are nearing the start of their racing careers. Among them is All American Gal, a half-sister to 2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner I’ll Have Another, as well as Sweet Little Indy, a full sister to Grade one winning sire Majestic Warrior and second dam to Dream Supreme.

According to the Racing Post, O'Brien trains at least four American Pharoah-sired horses at his Ballydoyle base in Ireland.

"My grandfather founded Ballydoyle on American dirt horses," MV Magnier is quoted at RacingPost.com. "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."

American Pharoah didn't run on anything but dirt during his career, which he capped by winning the 2015 Breeders' Cup Classic, but trainer Bob Baffert often said the champ could have performed over any surface. His sire, the late Pioneerof the Nile, won on both turf and synthetic.

American Pharoah, of course, stands at Coolmore's Ashford Stud in Lexington, Ky., and has also shuttled to Australia for the Southern Hemisphere's breeding seasons.

He could have two more starters in Wednesday's opener at Aqueduct.

Lady Delaware, out of More Hennessy — and a half-sister to Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Hootenanny — is owned by Hat Creek Racing. Tesorina is out of Nonsuch Bay, a former Mother Goose winner.

Both are trained by Wesley Ward. Tesorina will have Joe Bravo aboard, while Lady Delaware will have Eric Cancel on the mount.

Post time is 1:30 p.m. ET.