More Than Ready (USA) is a global phenomenon as a sire and sire of sires and now his daughters are part of a burgeoning career as a broodmare sire.
The Vinery champion started life in that division with Miracles of Life (Not A Single Doubt) a big-ticket winner of the 2013 Blue Diamond Stakes, Altante won a Gr.1 in NZ that same year as did Rebel Dane in Australia. Then Unencumbered (Testa Rossa) lobbed in last year’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
More Than Ready is bearing down on a 150 stakes-winner milestone and he can continue to take his broodmare count to another level at the Australian spring carnivals and USA Breeders’ Cup.
Locally, Rebel Dane is one of the favourites for the G2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick this Saturday after a sizzling first-up victory in the G2 The Shorts. “He’s in great order and his work this week has been brilliant,” trainer Gary Portelli said. “The Premiere should probably be elevated a Group 1 race and he will be hitting the line strongly.”
Rebel Dane (6g California Dane – Texarcana by More Than Ready) won the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield in 2013 and will be given the chance to win at the elite level again in the G1 Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley on October 23.
In North America, More Than Ready has a great strike-rate in the Breeders’ Cup Juveniles – Vinery freshman Pluck and top-class filly More Than Real doubled up in 2010 – and his mares have two front-line candidates for this year’s championships at Keeneland on October 30 & 31.
Sudden Surprise (2c Giant Surprise – Ready and Good by More Than Ready) is on-track for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (1700m) after a front-running victory in the LR Bertram Bongard Stakes (1400m) at Belmont on September 27. “That was probably the toughest New York-bred two year-old stakes race in history,” owner-breeder Mike Repole said. “Our horse is three-for-three and he has done everything right. He just keeps getting better.”
Sudden Surprise is prepared by Todd Pletcher and the Hall Of Fame trainer also conditioned More Than Ready and Pluck.
Isotherm (2c Lonhro – Game for More by More Than Ready) is also heading to Keeneland and his goal is the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (1600m). He credited Lonhro with his first USA stakes win in the G3 Pilgrim Stakes at Belmont Park last week. “This is a very talented horse. He does everything easy,” jockey Jose Lezcano said. “He responded to pressure and did everything right. He’s a very talented colt.”
Isotherm made $120,000 at the 2014 Keeneland September yearling sale. “We all loved him and everyone can see he’s one of the prettier horses around,” owner Matthew Schera said. “As long as he’s healthy, we will go to Keeneland.”
