Ready’s Image gelding Napayshini began living up to his potential with a sizzling victory at Gosford on Thursday.
Napayshini was racing first-up since February in the National Frame & Truss Hcp (1200m) and he bolted in by more than five lengths.
“I knew he was better than these,” trainer Grant Allard declared after the favourite cleared out in the straight. “I thought he may have been a Golden Slipper horse earlier this year but he was still learning.”
Napayshini (3g Ready’s Image – Daloot by Danehill Dancer) was an eye-catching second to All The Talk on debut at Warwick Farm last December but connections shelved an autumn campaign after a disappointing effort in the LR Canonbury Stakes at Rosehill.
“He missed the kick and was never in the hunt at Rosehill,” Allard recalled. “He was tipped out and gelded and that’s been the making of him.”
Napayshini has been nominated for the G1 Golden Rose at Rosehill on September 14. “That’s a big step up from a Gosford maiden but he’s a real good horse,” Allard declared. “I will see how he pulls up and then look at the calendar. He will keep improving getting up to 1400m and 1600m.”
Napayshini was a $57,500 buy for Yass based owner June Baker at the 2012 Inglis Classic yearling sale. His second dam Zaloot (Zabeel) is a winning half-sister to G2 AJC Royal Sovereign winner Flying Pegasus.
Ready’s Image has sired three new maiden winners this week starting with his Japanese based colt Sound Cascade. He scored a front-running victory at Niigata on Saturday.
Sound Cascade changed hands for $120,000 at the 2012 Ocala 2YO March Sale in Florida. Buyers were keen after he covered 200 metres in 10 seconds – the third fastest among 196 breeze-ups at the distance.
On Tuesday, Ready’s Image colt Savvy Joe was a comfortable debut winner over 1100m in Philadelphia. The Kentucky bred colt duelled for the lead and then drew clear to score by two lengths.
Ready’s Image (More Than Ready) covered 114 mares at a $5,500 (inc gst) fee Lincoln Farm in 2012 but he won’t be shuttling to the Hunter Valley this year.
Stakes winning filly Leinan launched his stud career at Keeneland last summer and there have been 23 individual winners since then in 7 countries.
– Karl Patterson