Sioux Nation Filly Sparkles In Group 3 Ballycorus Stakes

The progressive Ocean Jewel (3f Sioux Nation - Many Colours, by Green Desert) produced a career-best performance to win the Group 3 Ballycorus Stakes at Leopardstown on Thursday.

A smart maiden winner and Listed-placed as a two-year-old, the Willie McCreery-trained bay caught the eye when finishing well to take third in the Group 3 Lacken Stakes on her seasonal return. The daughter of Sioux Nation stepped up to seven furlongs and raced against older horses for the first time at Leopardstown, where she was ridden prominently by Billy Lee. The bay was travelling well when leading approaching the final furlong and quickened well to score by a length and a quarter from dual Group winner Real Appeal.

“That's brilliant,” said Willie McCreery after the race. “She's a lovely filly, she's done nothing wrong and she keeps improving the whole time. They went a good honest pace and she quickened off it, you couldn't ask for any more really.”

Looking forward, the trainer continued, “The world is her oyster and we'll take our time with her. We'll try and step her up but we've got all year with her.”

The exciting filly is owned by Al Shira’aa Farms, who bought the daughter of Sioux Nation as a yearling for €230,000. Bred by Grenane House Stud, she is a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Mother Earth (Zoffany). She becomes an eighth individual Stakes winner from the first crop of Sioux Nation, who is also responsible for another eight Stakes performers.