King Of Pop (AUS)
King Of Pop (AUS)
2 c Farnan – Za Zi Ba by All Too Hard
O: Wilrace Pty Ltd (Mgr: D G Wilson), Werrett Bloodstock Pty Ltd (Mgr: N R J Werrett), Whitby Bloodstock Pty Ltd (Mgr: M J Whitby), P I Sweeney, Mrs L Lloyd, M H Wood & Mrs M E Wood
B: Kitchwin Hills, Whitby Bloodstock Pty Ltd, N. Werrett, NSW
T: Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou
S: 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale V: North Bloodstock P: Ryan & Alexiou Racing, $800,000
W: The Chase Maiden 2YO Plate, 1100m, February 19, Warwick Farm
The Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained King Of Pop (Farnan) justified market favouritism to score an eyecatching debut win over 1100 metres at Warwick Farm on Wednesday, triggering thoughts of a tilt at next month’s Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m).
Partnered by Jason Collett, the colt attacked the line tenaciously to defeat Brad Widdup’s Savvy Hallie (Hellbent) by 0.1 lengths with the Coolmore-owned and Chris Waller-trained colt Congressman (Snitzel) a further 2.2-lengths away in third.
After his determined debut win, connections are now keen to give King Of Pop his chance to reach the Golden Slipper on March 22.
“We’ve always liked this little horse. Very easy to train, eats everything you give him, not a hassle in the world,” said Ryan.
“I always thought his best chance was a Golden Slipper. He was going to race in December and he pulled up shin sore so we gave him time. We’ll step him up now. We’ve got about three races we can try to get him in.
“What I liked about today, he sat back off a hot speed. He’s built like a sprinter. He’s got a great sprinting pedigree.”
Ryan isn’t sure which race the winner will head to next but he is content to keep his options open.
“There’s the Skyline Stakes, Todman Stakes, Canberra [Black Opal Stakes], Pago Pago,” the trainer said.
“He’s a good doing horse and a gross horse so it wouldn’t worry me if he went to the Pago Pago and backed up.”
King Of Pop was an $800,000 purchase for his trainers from the North Bloodstock draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He is the second foal and second winner out of the stakes-placed scorer Za Zi Ba (All Too Hard), who herself is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Rediener (Redoute’s Choice) and Listed scorer Rathlin (Fastnet Rock).
Za Zi Ba, who was bought by Ryan as a yearling, missed to Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) and Farnan (Not A Single Doubt) in 2023, and currently has a colt by Russian Revolution (Snitzel) at foot.