Ashford Handbook 2023

grand-daughters of Storm Cat. Like American Pharoah, Classic Empire enjoys the significant benefit of having a pedigree free of such as A.P. INDY , SEATTLE SLEW , DANZIG , SADLER’S WELLS , DEPUTY MINISTER , ROBERTO and HALO . Classic Empire already has seven first crop black-type winners. He also has a very respectful 63% winners to runners from his first crop. It was hardly surprising that one of his first black-type winners, Classy Edition, is out of a SEATTLE SLEW line mare, by BERNARDINI , or that his smart son Morello is out of a mare by A.P. INDY’ s son CONGRATS . Classic Empire must be a prime candidate for daughters of A.P. INDY and his sons, especially those which combine A.P. INDY with MR PROSPECTOR , such as PULPIT , FLATTER , MALIBU MOON and MINESHAFT . The similarly-bred American Pharoah has already sired a Gr.1 winner from a daughter of TAPIT and a Gr.2 winner from a mare by FLATTER . Classic Empire has numerous options from the MR PROSPECTOR male line, including the likes of KINGMAMBO , CARSON CITY , CITY ZIP , SMART STRIKE , CURLIN , DISTORTED HUMOR , SPEIGHTSTOWN (4x4 to Storm Cat) and STREET CRY . American Pharoah has made a bright start with the SADLER’S WELLS line, with Sadler’s Wells siring the dam of the Gr.1 2YO winner Van Gogh, while with GALILEO mares he already has five Group performers, headed by 2022 Gr.1 winner Above The Curve and Gr.2 winner Pista. Classic Empire’s first runner out of an UNCLE MO mare is the smart Gr.2 winner Interstatedaydream. American Pharoah has the Gr.2 winner Four Wheel Drive and Japanese Gr.1 dirt winner Café Pharoah from daughters of MORE THAN READY . The HAIL TO REASON line is therefore well worth trying with Classic Empire. The STORM CAT line is a likeable option, as Empire Maker sired Bodemeister and In Lingerie from daughters of STORM CAT and Gr.1 winner Eight Rings from a grand-daughter. Cairo Prince, another sire by Pioneerof The Nile, has Gr.2 and Gr.3 winners out of daughters of GIANT’S CAUSEWAY , HARLAN’S HOLIDAY and TALE OF THE CAT . American Pharoah already has several Graded/Group winners inbred to STORM CAT , including Pista (4x3), Sweet Melania (4x4) and Turned Aside (4x4), and Classic Empire’s black-type winner Empress Tigress is another inbred 4x3. American Pharoah’s first starter out of a SCAT DADDY mare is the black-type 2YO winner Mackinnon. American Pharoah sired his first Graded winner from a WAR FRONT mare, which suggests that Classic Empire could thrive with mares by other dirt performers by DANZIG . The DEPUTY MINISTER line is another option, as American Pharoah’s Gr.1-winning daughter As Time Goes By has a dam by DEHERE and his Listed winner Fi Fi Pharoah is out of a GHOSTZAPPER mare. Classic Empire’s first black-type winner, First Empire, is out of a grand-daughter of HOLY BULL , by MACHO UNO .

Morello is a 4½-length winner of the Gotham Stakes-Gr.3 at Aqueduct

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