The 2018 Saratoga carnival kicked off on Friday and Vinery legend More Than Ready sired the first juvenile winner when Lyrical Lady set a cracking pace to spreadeagle a 1100m maiden in 64.24s.

Lyrical Lady (2f More Than Ready – La Song by Unbridled’s Song) won by the best part of six lengths and trainer Steve Asmussen is ready to send her straight into stakes company.

“It wasn’t a secret we planned on running here,” Asmussen said while explaining the reason why his filly was backed into an even-money favourite on debut.  “If you’re running in a maiden race this week, you think they’re quality.”

Lyrical Lady starred at this year’s Ocala 2YO Sale in March after clocking the fastest breeze-up.  Phoenix Thoroughbreds owner Amer Abdulaziz faced serious competition before lodging a final bid of $625,000.  “We liked her speed in the breeze,” Asmussen said. “That purchase price showed that she has a lot of ability.”

Lyrical Lady is bred on the same More Than Ready – Unbridled’s Song cross as Asmussen’s top colt Copper Bullet who won last year’s Saratoga Special Gr.2.  Her black-type options at Saratoga in August include the Adirondack Stakes Gr.2, Bolton Landing Stakes LR and Skidmore Stakes LR.

Brisbane 2yo Miss Quaintly is another More Than Ready filly with black-type assignments ahead for Phoenix Thoroughbreds.  She is being set for the VRC Oaks Gr.1 in November on the strength of a powerful victory in the Tattersall’s QTIS 2YO Hcp (1600m) at Doomben on Saturday.

Trainer David Vandyke has a big opinion of Miss Quaintly who was a $280,000 purchase for Phoenix Thoroughbreds at the 2017 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale.  “I’m keen to get her to Melbourne for the Victoria Oaks.  She relaxes, finds the line and her breeding suggests she will have no problem getting a trip.”

Her USA-bred dam Quaintly (Giant’s Causeway) was a stakes placed winner over 2500m in North America before arriving here in 2014.  She’s a full-sister to Courtofversailles who won at Chantilly prior to relocating to the Gulf where he has won the Qatar Gold Trophy and Al Gharafa Cup.

“Miss Quaintly will have a quick break and then start here at 1600m before heading south,” Vandyke said.  “I’ve had three winners for Phoenix Thoroughbreds and they’re just starting to make their presence felt in the racing industry.”

LYRICAL LADY