MORE Than Ready, the world’s peerless sire of 2YO’s, achieved another significant milestone when Australian-bred Banaadeer was crowned Highveld Champion 2YO in South Africa for the current season.
The Mike De Kock trained colt was judged the standout performer in the republic during 2013/14 with two wins and a Group 1 second from his four starts.
Owned by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Banaadeer won his debut at Turrfontein by 8.5-lens then just 7-day later, won the Listed Storm Bird Stakes at the same venue by a comfortable 3.5-lens.
He was also second in the R$1m South African Nursery Stakes at Group 1 level, the nation’s equivalent of the Golden Slipper.
Banaadeer is an invaluable stallion prospect being out of Redoute’s Choice’s Flemington stakeswinner Provence whose first foal, Admiration won the G2 Hong Kong Chairman’s Trophy and was placed in the Group 1 Hong Kong Classic Mile.
Provence is also a half-sister to Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint winner Inspiration and to VRC Chester Manifold winner and Cambridge Stud sire, Lucky Unicorn.
Banaadeer’s dam, La Bamba, is herself a half sister to the sturdy sprinter Masked Party whose highlight win came in the Group 1 Galaxy at Randwick.
More Than Ready has already shown more than a glimpse of his qualities as a ‘sire of sires’ via the likes of Sebring and recent Champion NZ Freshman sire, Perfectly Ready.
Pluck, one half of More Than Ready’s 2010 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile double-play, is about to embark on his third season at Vinery Stud where he has already covered 255 mares in his preceding seasons on duty.
More Than Ready was Australia’s Champion Freshman Sire and twice crowned Champion Australian Sire of 2YO’s courtesy of back-to-back Golden Slipper winners, Sebring (2008) and Phelan Ready (2009).
Banaadeer’s crowning glory comes in the same week as More Than Ready 3yo filly Room Service staked her claim to Champion 3YO USA Filly honours and a possible Eclipse Award with victory in the Grade 1 American Oaks at Santa Anita.
