First European Group 1 winner for American Pharoah as Van Gogh takes Criterium

American Pharoah was provided with a first European Group 1 winner when the Aidan O'Brien-trained Van Gogh routed his rivals in the heavy-ground Criterium International at Saint-Cloud on Saturday.

Bred by Barronstown Stud, the imposing juvenile colt hails from a blue-blooded family being out of the Oaks and Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Imagine. She herself is a daughter of the great Sadler's Wells and a sister to the stakes-winning Strawberry Roan, as well as a relation of dual Derby hero Generous.

Imagine has proven an equally top-class broodmare, producing nine winners, five of which have gained black type, including the ill-fated Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Horatio Nelson, Group 2 scorer Viscount Nelson and Rockfel Stakes victress Kitty Matcham.

Van Gogh is from the second crop of the American Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, who will stand at Ashford Stud for a reduced fee of $100,000 in 2021, and his second individual top-level scorer after Harvey's Lil Goil landed the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland this month.

Despite his dirt-based pedigree, American Pharoah has been represented in Europe by a handful of stakes performers, including Park Hill Stakes heroine Pista, also second to Wonderful Tonight in the Prix de Royallieu, Listed victor Ocean Atlantique and Prix du Bois winner Maven.

American Pharoah was a $300,000 purchase from the Fasig Tipton Saratoga Sale in 2013, and famously became the first horse in 37 years to win the Triple Crown when trained by Bob Baffert. He signed off his career with a dominant win in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland in 2015.

Big day for Bolger as Gear Up and Mac Swiney oblige

Jim Bolger found himself the breeder of two Group 1 winners in the space of five minutes on Saturday, thanks to Gear Up and Mac Swiney. For good measure he also owns and trains the latter, who struck in Britain's final Group 1 race of the season, the Vertem Futurity Trophy.

Mac Swiney: the Vertem Futurity Trophy winner is named after Terence MacSwineyCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

The Mark Johnston-trained Gear Up, winner of the Criterium de Saint-Cloud, was the 19th top-level scorer for Darley's ever-dependable Teofilo - himself bred and trained by Bolger - and is the sixth foal out of the Toccet mare Gearanai.

The juvenile is a brother to Group 3 winner Guaranteed, yet another from the family bred and trained by Bolger.

Shortly after, Mac Swiney successfully battled out a gruelling finish with Dubawi colt One Ruler at Doncaster.

The eighth top-level victor for Derby winner New Approach, Mac Swiney is the first Group 1 winner inbred to Galileo, being out of the unraced Teofilo mare Halla Na Saoire, a sister to Group 2 scorer Light Heavy.

A spectacular afternoon for master trainer Bolger was enhanced by Pride Of Dubai colt Flying Visit winning the Group 3 Eyrefield Stakes at Leopardstown.

The juvenile, owned, trained and bred by Bolger, is the fifth first-crop European stakes winner for Coolmore's Pride Of Dubai and another out of a Teofilo mare in Fionnuar.

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