Cranbourne trainer Ken Keys reckons there’s plenty of upside to his Ready’s Image filly Up The Ladder.

Up The Ladder (3f Ready’s Image – Nylon by Quest For Fame) was facing the starter for just the second time when defeating older mares in the Viatek Maiden Plate (1600m) at Ballarat on Sunday.

She shadowed Fast Entry (Fastnet Rock) in a slowly run race and then nailed the favourite to score by a half-head.  “She’s still learning and still maturing,” Keys said.  “Ready’s Image is a speed sire but there’s plenty of stamina on her dam’s side.”

Up The Ladder will run in another 1600m race at Ballarat on October 2 and, all going well, will then press on to the LR Ethereal Stakes (2000m) on Caulfield Cup day.

“That’s probably getting a bit far ahead of ourselves,” Keys admitted.  “We’ve nominated her for the Victorian Oaks and will stay on that path until she tells us otherwise.”

Up The Ladder is raced by Ken’s wife Louise and stable client Colin Johnstone after changing hands for $17,000 at the 2012 Magic Millions National Sale.  Her dam Nylon is by an English Derby winner and she is a sister to Pursuits who won the 1998 LR Gosford Guineas and before placing in that year’s G1 Rosehill Guineas.

Nylon has a yearling filly by Ready’s Image and is due to foal to him again in October.

Ready’s Image (More Than Ready) has shuttled to Lincoln Farm since 2009, however, he didn’t return to the Hunter Valley this year.

– Karl Patterson

UP THE LADDER
Pictured as a yearling before the Magic Millions