Naas review: Sioux Nation sets up Commonwealth Cup bid
Sioux Nation returned to his best when defying a Group One penalty in the Goffs Lacken Stakes at Naas.
Winner of last season's Phoenix Stakes, the Aidan O'Brien-trained colt displayed his class as he dismissed the opposition in this Group Three contest.
Sioux Nation (15/8 favourite) showed he had come on for his run at Navan last month on his first start for 204 days with a dominant performance, to score by a length and a quarter from stable companion Fleet Review in the hands of Ryan Moore.
Victory provided Moore and O'Brien with a treble after scoring with Broadway and Sergei Prokofiev earlier on the card.
Sioux Nation won the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2017 and could return there next month for the Commonwealth Cup or the King's Stand Stakes.
O'Brien said: "We came here to find out if it was five or six furlongs at Ascot.
"Seamus (Heffernan on Fleet Review) let his lad roll along to make it a good, strong six because we always felt he had a lot of speed and wanted to know whether we would go for the King's Stand or the Commonwealth Cup.
"Ryan said he has all the speed in the world and he would have no problem going back to five, but maybe let him take on the three-year-olds this year (Commonwealth Cup). He also said he would be looking forward to the Nunthorpe.
"He's a great traveller and he quickens. It couldn't be fast enough for him. Fast ground and fast horse - that is usually the way."
Sky Bet went 8/1 from 10s for the Commonwealth Cup.
Sioux Nation tanks through proceedings and shows a decisive turn of foot to win the Group 3 @Goffs1866 Lacken Stakes @NaasRacecourse: pic.twitter.com/ocbVCouDkQ
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 20, 2018
Sergei Prokofiev had little trouble landing the odds in the Coolmore War Command Rochestown Stakes.
Aidan O'Brien's exciting youngster was close to the lead in third place as Mick Channon's British raider Izzer set the pace.
The 2/7 favourite hit the front under Ryan Moore and soon put the race to bed. Andre Amar made late gains to take the runner-up spot, some four lengths adrift, with Offline third and Izzer weakening into fourth.
Sky Bet cut the winner to 11/4 favourite for the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and O'Brien said: "He's learning and when he gets more pace in front of him it will help. He's very natural and gets there very easy - Ryan is very happy with him.
"It will be either the Coventry or the Norfolk (at the Royal meeting) and will depend on what we do with some of the other two-year-olds. He won't mind going five or six (furlongs)."
Brother Bear got back on track when taking Listed honours in the Owenstown Stud Stakes at Naas.
Since winning at this level nearly 12 months ago at the Curragh, the Jessica Harrington-trained colt had been out of luck, including when a close fourth in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Brother Bear (5/2 favourite) had shaped well when third over course and distance three weeks ago, after a 211-day break, and reaped the benefit of that outing by running out a length-and-a-half winner over Riyazan in the hands of Colm O'Donoghue.
Harrington said: "It's great to get him back on track. He had a good run here and that's the first time he's really had good to firm ground since last summer. He definitely appreciates it.
"He might go to (Royal) Ascot for the Jersey. I'm not sure he'd get a mile at this stage - he might do later in his life. I think that is the logical step to go."
The County Kildare trainer was completing a quick across-the-card double after Jetez went in at Limerick.
And her rich vein of form continued when Servalan (10/1) and Chicas Amigas gave her a one-two in the Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies' Sprint Stakes.
The duo had the race to themselves in the closing stages, with Servalan proving the stronger in the hands of Seamie Heffernan to prevail by a length and a quarter.
So Perfect, the 4/9 favourite, was only fourth for the Aidan O'Brien team.
Harrington said: "They are both very good and will go to Ascot, although I'm not sure in what races they will run. We will see nearer the time.
"Servalan luckily missed the break a bit and Seamie dropped her in. When he pulled her out she was very easy and quickened up great. It's nice to have two good fillies. They both came on well from their first run and will come on again."
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