MORE Than Ready’s historic 2010 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile double play leaves him with two of the highest rated 2YO’s on the Experimental Free Handicap released in the United States this week.
Both male and female divisional winners, Pluck (121) and More Than Regal (120) figured prominently in their respective categories, the latter coming in equal-second behind the unbeaten Awesome Feather.
Europe bound, Pluck was measured in equal fourth place, six points clear of another of More Than Ready’s stand-out juveniles from last season – Major Gain who claimed the Grade 3 Arlington-Washington Futurity Stakes in September.
More Than Ready’s epic 2010 saw him crowned as the Leading Sire in the USA, something which he has achieved twice here in Australia.
Not only was the release of the current Exp. Free Handicaps a triumph for More Than Ready, as well it was for his associate sire in Kentucky, Congrats.
A son of A.P Indy, Congrats finished with five two-year-olds on the list, one colt and four fillies.
The only sire with more representatives was Tapit, a former Champion First Season Sire and ironically, a close relation to another Vinery resident – Dubleo.
(Tapit’s dam, Tap Your Heels, is a half-sister to Secret Red, the dam of Dubleo).
“Congrats was the USA’s Leading Freshman Sire 2010 with four individual Grade One stakes horses including Wickedly Perfect and Turbulent Descent, both Grade One winners,” Vinery (Australia’s) Conor Phelan said.
“As a racehorse, Congrats got better as he got older – he raced until he was six – which is quite rare for a stallion anywhere but it proves his soundness and gives the strong impression that these two-year-olds are going to train on – Vinery US have a very strong stallion line up which is reflected in the Handicaps, it is a credit to them.”
