Full-siblings are rarley bred in different hemisphere’s but Prepared’s debut at Newmarket on July 23 was noteworthy for just this reason. The U.K-bred Godolphin colt is a full brother to the emerging stallion and VRC Derby winner, Benicio.
With 2 crops of racing age and Stakes horses from both, Benicio is emerging as a stallion of some ability and now stands alongside his sire More Than Ready as a stallion in his own right. Benicio was first southern hemisphere foal born from More Than Ready’s first season at Vinery in New South Wales and was More Than Ready’s first Group 1 winner in either hemisphere.
Benicio’s dam Mannington was subsequently purchased by Sheikh Mohammed in 2005 for A$2,050,000 in foal to Red Ransom setting a new Australian broodmare record. By Danehill and a Group 3 winner as a 2yo, Mannington is regally bred as a daughter of the Golden Slipper winner Bint Marscay.
The result of that Red Ransom pregnancy, her 3rd and last in Australia, was Romneya a mulitple Stakes winner of three races including The Vanity Gr.3 and the MRC Classic Gr.2.
Mannington has had two as yet unraced filly’s by Kingmambo before being covered by More Than Ready at Vinery Kentucky in 2008. Mannington was moved to Dalham Hall, in the UK where she foaled a More Than Ready colt subsequently named, Prepared.
As a full brother to Derby winner Benicio, this colt’s future will be followed closely in both hemispheres when he next steps out for trainer, Mahmood Al Zarooni.
