Champion 2YO Golden Slipper winner Farnan cemented his status as a sire on the move yesterday with son King Of Pop winning in impressive fashion on debut at Warwick Farm.
Ridden by Jason Collett, the colt lived up to his race favourite status, showing the same brilliant precociousness his sire was known for, edging out Savvy Hallie in a determined finish to the line.
His trainers, Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou paid $800,000 for the standout colt from North Bloodstock’s inaugural Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling draft in 2024, making him the second most expensive Farnan yearling to date. Their judgment looks to be spot on, with the colt only set to improve from here.
“We’ve always liked this little horse,” 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.
“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.”
King Of Pop is the second foal of stakes placed Za Zi Ba (All Too Hard), a half-sister to Group 1 Epsom Handicap winner Redeiner and Listed winner Rathlin. She is out of Weiner, a stakes-placed half-sister to Champion sire Snitzel.
King Of Pop’s triumph caps off a great few days for Farnan, with Grand Eagle (colt ex Sauvignon), also trained by Ryan/Alexiou, the latest Farnan 2YO to claim a trial win at Rosehill on Tuesday.
Farnan has now had three winners and four placegetters from his first crop, including boom colt North England, who won the $1 million Golden Gift and placed in the G3 Breeders’ Plate. He is on track for a tilt in the Golden Slipper and could just well be joined by King Of Pop. Both colts are a testament to the athleticism, class and professionalism their sire is stamping in his stock.
Farnan’s on-track credentials look to be superseded by his success as a sire, with the Golden Slipper winner currently the equal leading First Season Sire in Australia on winners, with his progeny earnings over $717,000 on the track to date.
His second crop of yearlings have been in high demand this year, selling for an average of $181,162 from 43 lots sold with a top price of $750,000. Farnan has 14 yearlings catalogued at Inglis Premier and a further 11 at Inglis Easter in April.
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