High priced Farnan colt King Of Pop will be given his chance to get to the Golden Slipper after a debut win at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Despite only one horse having run previously, it looked a race of some depth given the barrier trial performances of several prior, and the market confidence around several of the runners.
There was no more market confidence than that applied to King of Pop however, which saw him start favourite, an accurate assessment.
Trained by Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, Jason Collett found the perfect spot tracking the leaders one off the rail and maintained a determined finish when presented in the straight to beat Savvy Hallie (Hellbent) by a head with Congressman (Snitzel) a well beaten third.
“We’ve always liked this little horse,” said Ryan.
"Very easy to train. Eats everything you give him. Not a hassle in the world.
“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.”
“He’s a little Pocket rocket,” said Collett.
“He floated a bit but he was strong late. This is his time now. He’s sharp, got a bit of class about him.
“Did a wee bit wrong. He’s going to improve.”
Ryan and Alexiou paid $800,000 for King Of Pop from the North Bloodstock draft at Magic Millions Gold Coast.
That made him the second highest priced yearling for his sire, who has now had three winners including the highly rated Golden Slipper hope North England, set to run in the Group II Silver Slipper Stakes on Saturday.
King Of Pop is the second foal of stakes placed Za Zi Ba (All Too Hard), a half-sister to Group I Epsom Hcp winner Redeiner and Listed winner Rathlin.
She is out of Weiner, a stakes placed half-sister to Champion sire Snizel, also Hinchinbrook and Vienesse. The family also includes Private Eye.
Her first foal, Nouvea (I Am Invincible) has won two races to date, the last when resuming on Feb 2.
She has no yearling but foaled a colt by Russian Revolution last season and was served by Shamus Award.
