Vinery Stud draws the curtain on an outstanding Gold Coast Magic Millions career for legendary sire More Than Ready (USA) this week.

A world-class stallion in every respect, More Than Ready has four final-crop colts being offered by Vinery (as agent) among a quality draft of 13 yearlings.  There are also entries from long-time supporters Corumbene, Edinburgh Park, Newgate, Segenhoe, Kitchwin Hills, Edinglassie and Rothwell Park.

More Than Ready is the greatest winner-getter in the history of thoroughbred racing although his global influence is more than just a numbers game.  But just for the record, contemplate these figures.

He has sired 2,056 individual winners of 6,197 races for earnings over AUD 261million.  They have won in 39 jurisdictions on the back of a shuttle career that continued without pause between 2001 and 2019.

The Gold Coast Magic Millions honour-roll commenced with brilliant Adelaide filly Augusta Proud in the 2008 Magic Millions 2YO Classic RL and she franked that form with a further four black-type victories for trainer Leon Macdonald.

More Than Ready’s Champion Group 1 racehorse and sire Sebring won the 2008 Golden Slipper Stakes Gr.1 for Gai Waterhouse and the following year it was Phelan Ready’s turn for the late great Bruce McLachlan.

Phelan Ready won the Magic Millions 2YO Classic RL and he peaked again for Big Bruce on a bog track in the 2009 Golden Slipper Stakes Gr.1.

More Than Ready’s 2yo black-type strike-rate has since climbed to 82 individual juvenile Stakes winners and there’s sure to be more from his final crop at the Magic Millions this week.

He averaged $232,000 at the 2021 Gold Coast Magic Millions and Vinery bloodstock manager Adam White, who helped guide his southern stud career from the outset in 2001, marvels at the longevity that sees him gearing up for another northern book for a $50,000 fee at WinStar Farm in Kentucky.

“He’s phenomenal and there’s only a very small difference between his northern and southern records,” White explained.  “And he’s also the only horse to have been Champion 2YO Sire in both North America and Australia.

“Our four by More Than Ready have all be busy parading over the last week and, if I had to make a pick, it would be the colt from Tartufi (Lot 604).  He’s a forward type and his dam has already thrown Blueeyesintherein who won a Group 3 in the Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs.”

More Than Ready’s first yearling enter the sale-ring on Tuesday is Lot 17, the Corumbene Stud colt from Eternity (So You Think).  The dam is a half-sister to the General Nediym Stakes winners Ichihara (ATC Magic Night Stakes Gr.2), and Au Chocolat (GCTC Silk Stocking LR).

Corumbene owner George Altomonte has supported More Than Ready from his earliest books at Vinery.  His Golden Slipper Gr.1 winner Sebring was bred and reared at Corumbene and so was Nayeli, a Group 3 winner at Randwick and Caulfield.