FIT AND READY is the latest More Than Ready youngster to emerge from Tulloch Lodge. The beautifully bred filly will face the starter for the first time in the G2 Reisling Slipper Trial at Rosehill this Saturday.
Trainer Gai Waterhouse has thrown her in at the deep end against speed machines Solar Charged, Military Rose, Psychologist and Elimbari.
Waterhouse prepares Golden Slipper hope Brightexpectations who is also by More Than Ready . He was runner-up to Hinchinbrook in the G3 Skyline Stakes at Randwick last Saturday.
Fit And Ready has a Group 1 pedigree to back up her claims. She is by Vinery Stud’s Champion 2YO sire More Than Ready and is a half-sister to the Danehill stars Catbird (G1 Golden Slipper) and Danbird (G2 Pago Pago Stakes). She is also a half-sister to Taunton Vale sire Bearcat (Danehill) who is off to a brilliant start at stud in Western Australia.
“There’s a lot to like about this filly,” Waterhouse said this week. “She’s not fully fit but she’s certainly talented and will acquit herself well on Saturday.”
Fit And Ready (2f More Than Ready – Fitting by Marscay) has trialled twice for two seconds leading up to her debut. She was runner-up to stablemate My Amelia in a Randwick hit-out last month. The winner is by Redoute’s Choice out of a More Than Ready mare and she was among the pre-post favourites for the Golden Slipper until fading from view in the G3 Sweet Embrace Stakes last Saturday.
Fit And Ready was bred by Gerry Harvey and Twin Pine Thoroughbreds and races for a syndicate that includes the Magic Millions co-owner and Vinery Stud.
CHARING CROSS is another Waterhouse trained youngster racing for the first time in the G2 Todman Slipper Trial on Saturday. He has drawn the outside alley in a 13 horse field led by G1 Blue Diamond winner Star Witness and G3 Black Opal winner Decision Time
Charing Cross (2c Fastnet Rock – Coogee Beach by Fusaichi Pegasus) is raced by a Star Thoroughbreds syndicate and has been super-impressive in a couple of trial wins at Rosehill.
“The penny hasn’t completely dropped with Charing Cross,” Waterhouse said after the colt dashed over 200m in 11.10s on Tuesday. “But they will know he’s there on Saturday.”
Coolmore sire Fastnet Rock comes up with feature winners week after week and his strike-rate is spot on this month with Wanted (Newmarket Hcp) and Rock Kingdom (Australian Guineas) claiming G1 events on both Super Saturdays at Flemington this month.
His Tulloch Lodge colt is the first foal of Cheltenham winner Coogee Beach who also earned black-type when runner-up in the Listed Tasmanian 1000 Guineas. She is a half-sister to the G3 Adelaide Guineas winners Shorblue (Bluebird) and Classic Allure (Bellotto).