More Than Ready colt Bourne In Nixa swamped short-priced favourite Mitole for his first black-type victory in the Gazebo Stakes LR at Oaklawn Park on Saturday.
The Steve Margolis-trained 3yo is the 181st stakes winner by More Than Ready.
Bourne in Nixa had won a Churchill Downs juvenile last year but failed last time out at Delta Downs. “It’s a funny track at Delta and he didn’t like it,” Margolis explained. “I’ve really been looking to run him but there’s nothing at Fair Grounds, either.
“I liked how he’s been training and decided to nominate here and it worked out good. There was a speed duel up front and he swung to the outside and ran a big race.”
Bourne in Nixa is a Kentucky homebred for owners Robert & Lawana Low. His dam My Tara Bella (Elusive Quality) is a half-sister to Prairie Rose Stakes LR winner Ha Ha Tonka (Distorted Humor).
Their second-dam Capote Belle (Capote) won a Test Stakes Gr.1 at Saratoga.
More Than Ready can add another new northern-hemisphere stakes-winner to his tally in Ireland next Friday, March 2. The Vinery’s legend’s 3yo filly Blackgold Fairy routed her maiden rivals by six lengths at Dundalk last Friday and will likely back up there in the Patton Stakes LR.
“She’s a real good-moving filly,” trainer Michael Halford said. “She had a run here in November and was very green so we’ve taken our time.”
Blackgold Fairy descends from champion mare Islington (Sadler’s Wells) and was a €62,000 (AUD 93,180) buy for YuLong Investments at the 2016 Goffs yearling sale.
The next More Than Ready yearlings for sale in Australia are at the Inglis Melbourne Premier starting next Sunday, March 4. Among his entrants is Vinery’s half-brother to top-class South African galloper Brazuca and Perth stakes winner Mr Utopia (Lot 261).
Brazuca was an $80,000 buy at the 2014 Melbourne Premier when offered by Vinery through the draft of Kia-Ora Stud. He was Group 1 placed in the Cape Guineas and Cape Derby and trained on to win the 2017 Colorado King Stakes Gr.2 at Turffontein.
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BLACKGOLD FAIRY
More Than Ready filly wins her maiden by 6 lengths in Ireland