By any measure, More Than Ready (USA) is a global legend and the last twelve months has seen him join the Top 5 stallions of all time for stakes winners.
MORE THAN READY (USA) was represented by 17 new stakes winners including 4 new Group 1 winners world-wide between August 1 and July 31. He has sired 189 stakes winners and, at that rate, will pass Danzig (198) into fourth spot this season.
The Vinery shuttler sired 78 individual winners in Australia in 2017-18 for earnings over $3.65 million. Multiple Group 1 winner Prized Icon was his chief earner and he warmed up for a spring campaign with a winning trial at Newcastle last Friday.
Currently in quarantine ahead of his next southern season at Vinery, More Than Ready’s service fee remains at $66,000 (ing GST).
ALL TOO HARD was simply sensational with two crops racing in 2017-18. Consider these key indicators;
> Leading second-season sire by winners (75) and wins (113). Those stats have only ever been bettered by Northern Meteor. And he topped $4.28 million in prizemoney.
> Runner-up to Champion stallion Snitzel for 3YO winners (62) and wins (96) finishing ahead of established sires Fastnet Rock (58 – 93) and Sebring (58 – 90).
> Top 10 sire by 2yo winners (13) and wins (17) – the equal of Snitzel and ahead of Zoustar, Written Tycoon, Redoute’s Choice, Fastnet Rock, Pierro & Medaglia d’Oro.
Those figures don’t tell the full story for a young sire available at a $33,000 (inc GST) fee this year. All Too Hard has sired 16 black-type performers to date and will begin staking his claim, with three crops racing in 2018-19, as one of the go-to stallions in the Hunter Valley.
CASINO PRINCE equalled his best-ever season with 104 individual winners in 2017-18. It was his third century in a row and he’s the only stallion in that category standing at a service fee below $30,000 this year.
In fact, Casino Prince is one of Australia’s best-value at $9,900 (inc GST). Since being crowned Australia’s Champion first-season sire in 2011-12, he has maintained a stunning 67% winning strike-rate topped by 27 stakes performers.
Trainer Chris Munce believes the next black-type galloper by Casino Prince is in his backyard at Eagle Farm. He prepares Lucky Jackson for owner Max Whitby and was up-tempo after a Doomben victory during the winter carnival.
Lucky Jackson is a three-quarter brother to Glenlogan Park Stakes Gr.3 winner Sookie. “I’ve been saying this bloke is a genuine stayer since I took him to Sydney last year,” Munce declared. “He’s laid back and when there’s a good, even gallop, he just improves.”
PLUCK (USA) is building a reputation as a sire of tough, consistent gallopers who get into a winning groove and refuse to surrender.
Plucky Girl capped off a sequence of 5 wins in 6 starts between November and April with a gutsy victory in the $150,000 Tamworth Cup. And then she signed off for the season with a black-type placing in the Gai Waterhouse Classic LR.
Cogliere has been a marvellous money-spinner for his connections winning 6 races and over $300,000 in prizemoney. He’s a hard-knocker from the old-school and scored a resounding victory in the South Grafton Cup on July 8. Trainer Marc Quinn is banking on another tough-as-nails performance in the Coffs Harbour Cup (1600m) on Thursday.
Life On The Wire won five in a row between September and February alternating between Tasmania and Melbourne. “She is the best mare I’ve had since Lady Lynette,” trainer Scott Brunton claimed after her Group 3 victory in the Vamos Stakes. “She’s done some amazing things but this rates as her most impressive win.”
MORE THAN READY
2018 VINERY STALLION ROSTER
MORE THAN READY: $66,000
ALL TOO HARD: $33,000
STAR TURN: $22,000
HEADWATER: $16,500
PRESS STATEMENT: $16,500
CASINO PRINCE: $9,900
PLUCK: $6,600
All service fees (inc GST)