Whilst More Than Ready tasted success twice at Randwick on Saturday with Montauk and Nayeli, it was announced he will have two new sons retire to Stud in the U.S next season.
More Than Ready’s G.1 Champagne Stakes winner Daredevil will stand alongside his sire at WinStar Farm in Kentucky whilst 2yo Stakes winner Major Gain retires to New York.
Daredevil was trained by Todd Pletcher who also conditioned More Than Ready and his Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Pluck who is alongside his sire in the Southern Hemisphere at Vinery.
“Daredevil’s brilliance at two reminded me of More Than Ready,” Pletcher said. “I’ve always thought the really talented two year-olds go on to make the best stallions.”
The dark chestnut had rolled to a 6 length win in his career debut before stretching out to 1600m in last year’s Champagne Stakes G.1 at Belmont Park. He stalked the early pace before sweeping to the lead and kicking two lengths clear clocking 1:36.62s.
Daredevil (More Than Ready – Chasethewildwind by Forty Niner) earned a 107 Beyer speed figure which was the fastest two year-old rating since Uncle Mo and The Factor recorded similar figures in 2010. “He’s a special horse,” winning jockey Javier Castellano said. “He will do whatever you ask. I told Todd he reminded me of Bernardini.”
Bred in Kentucky, Daredevil is a half-brother to 2008 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Albertus Maximus and was a $260,000 graduate from the 2013 Keeneland September Sale. He was purchased by Let’s Go Stable manager Kevin Scatuorchio who had bought More Than Ready as a yearling at the same venue in 1998.
“Daredevil is the fastest two year-old ever by More Than Ready, which is a big statement when you look at how successful he has been as a juvenile sire,” WinStar president Elliott Walden said. “I also love the fact that there are five Group 1 winners under his first two dams and that Todd picked him out as a yearling. Nobody knows More Than Ready better.
“We believe Daredevil possesses everything to stand alongside More Than Ready as an exciting son that has a big shot at carrying on the sireline. More Than Ready is emerging as an important sire of sires around the world and it’s happening through his best juvenile sons like Sebring who sired Australia’s latest Horse of the Year Dissident.”
Meanwhile, Graded 2yo Stakes winner Major Gain will take up stud duties at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in 2016.
“We are pleased to stand the first son of More Than Ready in New York,” said Joe McMahon. “A graded stakes winner in his second start at two, Major Gain offers breeders a very successful precocious sire line in New York racing, plus his full sister is Grade I stakes winner Room Service.”
This season saw two new sons of More Than Ready in Australia, Better Than Ready at Lyndhurst and Verrazano at Coolmore.
