More Than Ready set the bar somewhere in the stratosphere when he began the defence of his 2YO Crown this season.
Thanks to champion colts Sebring and Phelan Ready, the Vinery stallion won the 2008 and 2009 Australia premierships in the juvenile category. A hat-trick would place him right up there in the realm of Star Kingdom and Danehill.
The chance of another title is growing by the minute after his colt Brightexpectations ran a tip-top second to Hinchinbrook in the G3 Skyline Stakes at Randwick on Saturday. He will be seen again before the Golden Slipper in an effort to qualify for the 2YO Grand Final at Rosehill.
Brightexpectations (2c More Than Ready – Miss Brightman by Unbridled’s Song) is trained by Gai Waterhouse for a syndicate that includes her daughter Kate. He was a $150,000 buy out of the Torryburn Stud draft at the 2009 Gold Coast Magic Millions.
“He’s been underrated from day one but I couldn’t be happier with him,” Waterhouse said shortly after the Skyline. “He will run again before the Golden Slipper because most of his prizemoney is from the Wyong Magic Millions.”
Waterhouse played an integral part in More Than Ready’s first Australian title in 2007-08. She trained Sebring to lucrative victories in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic and Golden Slipper Stakes.
The Southern Halo stallion was crowned Champion 2yo sire again in 2008-09 courtesy of Phelan Ready who also completed the Magic Millions – Golden Slipper double.
Brightexpectations gave a great sight on debut in the G3 Maribyrnong Plate at Flemington in October. He only wilted in the final stages and wasn’t disgraced behind local youngster General Truce.
Waterhouse kept him in work after the trip to Melbourne and that decision paid off with a victory in the $200,000 Magic Millions Wyong Slipper in December.
More Than Ready got him from Hawkesbury juvenile winner Miss Brightman. Second dam Espina (Danehill) was a Sandown winner for Lloyd Williams and Kerry Packer in 1997. She is a half-sister to G3 AJC Canonbury Stakes Brilliance (Rory’s Jester).
The Golden Slipper determines who will be Australia’s Champion juvenile sire. Hinchinbrook (Snitzel) firmed from into $13 for the $3.5 million event on April 3 while Brightexpectation, who was only beaten a short-head, is priced at $35.
BUTT I’M READY is another More Than Ready youngster who can muscle his way into the Golden Slipper. He has been nominated for this Saturday’s G2 Todman Slipper Trial by Gary Portelli.
Butt I’m Ready (2g More Than Ready – Pretty Buttons by Danehill) was a fast-finishing third in the Listed Black Opal Stakes last Sunday week. He had won and been placed at Rosehill in February prior to the trip to Canberra.
Portelli and Vic Cox bought him for $150,000 out of the Baramul Stud draft at the 2009 Gold Coast Magic Millions. He is a half-brother to Marscay sprinter-miler L’espalier who was also stakes-placed as a juvenile in the AJC Breeders’ Plate and Canonbury Stakes.
Their dam Pretty Buttons has a yearling colt by More Than Ready and another colt on the ground by Encosta de Lago.
MORE MORE MORE is another More Than Ready with untapped ability. He is trained by Alan Bailey and was a very impressive winner on debut at Eagle Farm in January.
More More More (2g More Than Ready – Christmas Offer by Belong To Me) was $125,000 purchase from the 2009 Gold Coast Magic Millions and Bailey is excited about his future.
“He’s a nice horse and a big strong looking fella,” Bailey said. “He will make a winter carnival horse for sure. He’s well bred and descends from Denise’s Joy. I don’t think he will have any trouble running a mile.”
More More More is from a winning half-sister to G2 AJC Challenge Stakes winner Light Up The World (Rory’s Jester), LR Morphettville Guineas winner Presenting (Redoute’s Choice) and the dam of G1 winners Bentley Biscuit (Peintre Celebre) and Thorn Park (Spinning World).