Promising Sioux Nation Colt Delivers On Return

Pop Star (3c Sioux Nation - Knock Stars, by Soviet Star) produced a smart performance to make a winning return to action in Thursday’s sprint maiden at Navan.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt had shown promise on both his juvenile starts, having finished just behind subsequent Group winner Ocean Jewel (Sioux Nation) at the Curragh, before finishing second in another competitive maiden. Absent since August, he was partnered by Seamie Heffernan in the five and a half furlong contest and disputed the lead in the early stages. Asserting by halfway, he began to draw clear from a furlong out and kept on well under pressure to deny the Group-placed favourite by three parts of a length. The pair finished four and a half lengths clear of the field.

Speaking after the race, the winning rider said, “We thought a bit of him last year but he got a setback, so he's missed a lot of time off the track.” Heffernan expects there is more to come from Pop Star, saying, “In the last 20 yards he was quite green but I was more than happy with him. If he gets seven furlongs he's definitely a Stakes horse.”

Pop Star is owned by Coolmore partners with Westerberg, having been bought by MV Magnier as a yearling for 215,000gns. Bred and sold by Pier House Stud, the son of Sioux Nation provides an important update for his yearling brother by No Nay Never, who is catalogued in the Goffs Orby Sale.