More Than Ready’s Group 1 winning colt Gimmethegreenlight has been retired after suffering a ligament injury during his last-start loss as favourite in the G1 South African Classic (1800m).
Gimmethegreenlight (Aus) will stand at Varfontein Stud this year. Based north-east of Cape Town at Paarl, it is already home to leading USA bred sire Caesour (Nureyev).
Cape based Justin Snaith rates Gimmethegreenlight the best horse he’s ever trained. “I will be sending my own mares to him,” Snaith said. “The injury isn’t serious but it ruled out the Durban July.”
Connections had also received an invitation to the USA Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita in November but that was declined due to South Africa’s strict quarantine laws.
Gimmethegreenlight (3c More Than Ready – Yes She Can Cancan by Canny Lad) is currently South Africa’s top-rated 3YO on 117. He won the G1 Queens Plate during the Kenilworth carnival in January and then finished a courageous third behind champion mare Igugu in the G1 J&B Met.
Vinery sold Gimmethegreenlight as a weanling for $155,000 at 2009 Magic Millions National Sale. The family received another Group 1 update when his older half-sister Ofcourseican (Mossman) won the Coolmore Classic at Rosehill in March.
Their dam Yes She Can Cancan was bred by Raheen Stud’s Basil Nolan and the Queensland nursery has retained several of her close relations. Nolan also owns Yes She Can Cancan’s half-sister Stepping (Dodge) who won four sprints in Brisbane. Her Peter Moody-trained colt Club Command (Commands) was very impressive winning at Caulfield on Saturday.
Gimmethegreenlight is the latest G1 winning son of More Than Ready to carry on the sireline. His 2008 Golden Slipper winner Sebring headed the list of first season sires at the 2012 Inglis Easter yearling sale with 21 lots averaging $134,286.
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Pluck is another one of his recently retired stars. Pluck will join More Than Ready on the Vinery roster when he shuttles to Australia for the first time this year.
Varfontein Stud will announce a service fee for Gimmethegreenlight next month.