More Than Ready 2yo filly Marsali romped home by more than three lengths when making her debut for trainer Dermot Weld in Ireland on Wednesday.
Marsali (2f More Than Ready – Milago by Danzig) won the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden (1200m) at Fairyhouse for Weld and Kentucky based Calumet Farm.
The USA bred filly drew the outside barrier in a capacity 15 horse field and broke smartly before settling mid-division three wide. She sprinted to the front at the furlong and simply outclassed her rivals who were led home by Gussy Goose (Danehill Dancer) and As Good As Gold (Oasis Dream).
“I thought she would struggle from the draw but she is obviously decent,” jockey Pat Smullen said. “She’s a very sweet filly and there is a lot to look forward to with her. She has speed but she will go further than six furlongs.”
Calumet Farm owner Brad Kelley bred Marsali under the Bluegrass Hall banner and she is a younger half-sister to Kentucky stakes performer Thomas Jefferson (Mr. Greeley). Second-dam Hidden Lake (Quiet American) was a Group 1 winner of the Beldame Stakes, Go for Wand Stakes and Hempstead Hcp and it’s also the family of Vinery’s Kentucky Derby winning shuttler Big Brown.
It’s the same More Than Ready – Danehill /Danzig cross that has been so successful in Australia.
Marsali is the second juvenile winner for Vinery champion More Than Ready in Europe this year. His brilliant colt Wild Tobacco won on debut at Lingfield last month and trainer Richard Hannon believes he will be a force in stakes company during the summer.
Weld didn’t outline any future assignments for Marsali but he is always prepared to travel with the right horse from his base at the Curragh.
Meanwhile, More Than Ready colt Verrazano is thriving in advance of his Royal Ascot mission in the G1 Queen Anne Stakes (1600m) next Tuesday. The Group 1 winning USA import is available at $4 in pre-post betting behind even-money favourite Toronado.
Vinery will stand More Than Ready for a $66,000 (inc gst) service fee this year.
