A beaten favourite in a Pakenham maiden on November 10, the Sioux Nation (USA) filly Socks Nation did not let her supporters down a second time when putting eight opponents to the sword in Wednesday’s Ladbrokes Owners Incentive Scheme Plate (1500m) at Sandown-Lakeside.
Ridden by John Allen for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, the progressive 3-year-old filly opened up over the final two furlongs to defeat the 4-year-old gelding Maxxi Bon (Bon Aurum) by a widening five and three-quarter lengths with the 4-year-old Winning Rupert mare Everett a long head back in third.
“She showed good tactical speed. There didn’t seem to be a lot on paper, so when she jumped clean, Johnny rolled forward,” assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said.
“She did everything right. She’s very professional and has threatened to win a race like this, so it’s great for Sheriff (Iskander) and Suman (Hedge).
“She’s a filly that has always showed ability, so to win a race in town is fantastic.”
After finishing fourth at Sandown on September 13, Socks Nation was off the scene for two months before finishing second at Pakenham.
“It was just a breather,” Turnbull said.
“We wanted to stretch her out through the spring. We knew she was capable, and the races would fall away.
“That’s the benefit of Ballarat in that you can forget about them in the back paddock, so they can have a pick, and you can get more of a prep out of them, as it showed today.
“There is a race sixteen days away at The Valley, a 1500m VOBIS race for fillies, which looks suitable.”
A $160,000 purchase for Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) from the Milburn Creek draft at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Socks Nation is the first foal of the talented mare Tahnee Tiara.
The winner of seven races and placed a further seventeen times in a 43-start career, the hard-knocking daughter of Commands is a half-sister to Listed stakes-winner Evalina (I Am Invincible), who finished third in the Group 1 AuRC Railway Stakes.
From the family of Referral, Shogun Lodge and Singing The Blues, Tahnee Tiara had an All Too Hard colt sell to John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) for $170,000 from the Milburn Creek draft at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. Named Eye Of Light, he will sport the colours of Price Bloodstock for Ben, Will, and JD Hayes.
Tahnee Tiara has a yearling colt by Ghaiyyath (IRE) and foaled a North Pacific filly on September 18.
Elsdon Park looks to have one of the choice lots at Karaka in January with the first foal of Evalina, a Zoustar colt (Lot 55)
