Trainer Mick Price has Group 1 plans for Samaready after his comeback mare scored a resounding victory in the G3 The Shark Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.

Samaready (4m More Than Ready – Samar by Secret Savings) had raced just once since finishing third to Pierro in the 2012 Golden Slipper but she bridged the long break with a brilliant return on home turf.

“That’s a big relief,” Price said.  “I’ve been too scared to work her too hard.  But she hit the line strongly and now we know she can handle race day pressure.”

Price revealed ambitious plans for the Vinery owned mare culminating in the Group 1 Moir Stakes won last year by Mossman son Buffering and twice previous by All To Hard’s half-sister Black Caviar.

Craig Newitt was full of praise for Samaready, a filly who he had previously partnered to sweep the Blue Diamond prelims and Grand Final in 2011.
”It’s very satisfying and it’s relief,” Newitt said. “These horses don’t come along very often. She dominated as a two-year-old and I always thought she would be a better three-year-old.
“Then we never really got to see her as a three-year-old.”

Vinery Stud partner Greg Perry who shares in the ownership of Samaready capped off an unforgettable day at the races watching Australia’s champion racehorse Atlantic Jewel – whom he bred and sold – remain undefeated at start number nine streaking to a brilliant comeback win in the feature Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m).

Bred by Gerry Harvey, Samaready was sold by Vinery Stud at the 2011 Inglis Easter yearling sale for $150,000.  She won the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes before going amiss after the Golden Slipper.

Vinery retained a share in the More Than Ready mare and she will be a valuable addition to its ranks in retirement.  Her dam Samar is a half-sister to G1 Sydney Cup winner County Tyrone (Danewin) and she has also foaled G2 Karrakatta Plate winner Night War (General Nediym).

Samar’s latest winner is Samarmeteors (Northern Meteor) who scored second-up for Price at Sandown in May.  The mare has a 2yo filly by Testa Rossa, a yearling colt by Exceed And Excel and she is due any day now to More Than Ready.

Vinery champion More Than Ready has already sired 19 individual winners so far this season and, apart from Samaready, he has been represented by Sydney G3 winner War (Up And Coming Stakes).

More Than Ready is standing for a $99,000 (inc gst) fee at Vinery.