Triple Crown winner American Pharoah is set to stand at The Shizunai Stallion Station in Japan for the 2026 breeding season in partnership with the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association (JBBA). The son of Pioneerof The Nile will return to his base at Coolmore America's Ashford Stud in July 2026.
"We have worked very closely shuttling stallions with the JBBA in the past and are delighted that their members will now have access to his bloodline," said Ashford Stud manager Dermot Ryan. "There has been interest from Japan for the past number of years in purchasing the horse, and we've come up with a compromise that suits both parties. Pharoah will be accompanied to Japan by his groom from Ashford."
American Pharoah has already made a significant impact in Japan, siring 58 winners from just 88 runners at an impressive strike rate of 65%. Among them are nine black-type scorers, most notably Cafe Pharoah, a dual winner of the February Stakes (G1).
Another of his sons, Luxor Cafe, won this year's Hyacinth Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse and finished 12th in the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs.
Elected into the Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2021, American Pharoah ended a 37-year drought when he swept the Triple Crown in 2015. He also captured that year's Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), becoming the first "Grand Slam" winner, on his way to Horse of the Year honors.
The 13-year-old stallion stood the 2025 breeding season at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky., for a stud fee of $45,000. Currently ranked 16th on the general sires list, he is responsible for nine stakes winners this year, including Ruffian Stakes (G2) victress and millionaire Jody's Pride.
A versatile stallion, American Pharoah has sired nine grade 1 winners over both turf and dirt surfaces. His highest earners have actually come overseas, led by the aforementioned Cafe Pharoah in addition to Australian group 1 winners Riff Rocket and Goldrush Guru.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
