More Than Ready was represented by his 142nd stakes winner during the G1 Preakness Stakes meeting at Pimlico on Saturday.
The Vinery champion’s undefeated gelding Woodwin W was given his cue approaching the home turn before skipping clear in the LR James Murphy Stakes (1600m). “We were pretty confident coming into the race,” trainer Jamie Ness said. “The owners have come up from Florida to see him win today.”
Woodwin W (3g More Than Ready – Josette by Danehill) had completed a hat-trick in restricted company at Pimlico on April 4 before a decisive stakes debut on turf. “He usually likes the front but Jamie told me to sit off the pace,” jockey Jevian Toledo said. “He took off when I asked and he wants to go longer.”
Woodwin W is the latest stakes winner to carry the successful More Than Ready – Danehill cross. His Irish-bred dam Josette won at Gowran Park and among her other winners are two Japanese stakes performers by Deep Impact.
Josette is also a half-sister to the dam of Sydney stakes winner Irish Dream (Falbrav).
It was a big weekend for More Than Ready with Australian bred 2yo Entisaar winning the 2015 Racing Association Highveld Feature Season Awards on Saturday.
Vinery will stand More Than Ready for a $66,000 (inc gst) service fee this year and there are numerous opportunities to buy into his stock at the Magic Millions National Sale starting next Sunday, May 24.
There are two filly foals from his home base being offered during the opening session. Lot 16 is the first foal from LR Gimcrack Stakes winner Hussousa (Husson) and Lot 213 is out of Vintage Blend (Cape Cross) who hails from the family of champion filly Triscay.
There are 21 More Than Ready mares for sale and another 10 mares catalogued in foal to him.
More Than Ready yearlings at the National Sale include Vinery colts from Group 1 winning mare Lotteria (Lot 1584) and Group 2 winner Astrodame (Lot 1939).
