King ready to reign first-up in the 2025 San Domenico Stakes
Ryan and Alexiou will look to continue their momentum in Saturday’s Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m), with promising colt King Of Pop headlining their team at Rosehill.
A proven stakes winner as a two-year-old, King Of Pop claimed the Black Opal Stakes and ended his campaign with a runner-up finish in the Kindergarten Stakes. He returns after two trials, with co-trainer Sterling Alexiou particularly impressed by his latest effort behind Bonita Queen. “He’s come back really well. He’s needed the two trials to bring him to peak but I’m happy with where he’s at,” Alexiou said.
While King Of Pop takes his place in the San Domenico, stablemate Blitzburg won’t line up after pulling up sore from his Rosebud run. He will instead be directed towards the Heritage Stakes (1100m). “He’s OK but needed time, so we’ll likely see him at the Heritage,” Alexiou confirmed.
Another of their three-year-olds, Grand Eagle, is being aimed lower initially but could progress deeper into the carnival. “He’ll probably go to a midweek Kensington race with the view of a backdoor into the Ming Dynasty and possibly the Golden Rose if his form warrants it,” Alexiou said. The colt, like King Of Pop, is a son of Golden Slipper winner Farnan and ended his two-year-old season with consecutive wins.
Fans can follow the action when King Of Pop resumes in the San Domenico Stakes, with betting available now through Australia’s leading betting sites.
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