Dam Of First Pharoah Finds Success In Show Ring

As the dam of First Pharoah, the first foal of American Pharoah, Kakadu’s place in esteemed breeding company would seem secure even though her racing career was less than stellar, having finished ninth in her only start. Her colt, First Pharoah, hasn’t yet started. However, reproductive issues have kept her from subsequent breedings.

In an effort to make sure the mare had a productive future and was happy, owner-breeder Oussama Aboughazale, of International Equities Holdings and Sumaya U.S. Stable, sought out a new owner for the sweet mare. He subsequently sold the mare to Brooke Schafer and Taylor Wienold of Lexington, KY; the duo bought the mare with the intention to see what could do in the show ring.

First brought to Schafer’s attention by a friend, Schafer had her mom go look at the mare. With an excellent eye for a quality animal, the mare passed her inspection with flying colors and arrived at the farm where Schafer and Wienold board soon after. Wienold and Schafer took the mare’s retraining slowly, treating the mare as they would any unbroken horse they trained together. To their surprise, the 6-year-old immediately took to under-saddle work like an old pro.

The mare has flourished in the show ring, rapidly learning and eagerly answering new challenges Wienold asks of her. Wienold is excited for Kakadu’s future as a show horse and notes that in her experience, many former broodmares make excellent riding partners when their under-saddle work is taken slowly.

Already, the mare’s success in the show ring is proof that many retired racehorses, even those that have already had a second careers in the breeding shed, can go on to have successful and productive vocations.