More Than Ready joined the all-time greats when his filly Spring Heat won the Bonecrusher Stakes-Gr.3 in New Zealand on Saturday.
The Lance O’Sullivan-Andrew Scott trained 3yo is the 178th stakes-winner by Vinery Stud’s living legend. The Ellerslie black-type puts More Than Ready level with breed-shaper Mr Prospector in the Top 5 behind Danehill, Sadler’s Wells, Galileo & Danzig.
“She’s very promising and we’ve had a big opinion of this filly for a long time,” Scott said. “She showed us a huge amount of natural ability this time last year but we’ve had to be very patient.
“That’s starting to be rewarded now.”
Spring Heat (3f More Than Ready – Emaurismo by Redoute’s Choice) was runner-up on debut at Taupo in September and then won a Hastings maiden by three lengths on November 12.
She took on a proven field of black-type performers in the Bonecrusher and exploded off a quick tempo to win running away by more than two lengths over 1400m. “To get away from them in the last little bit was very impressive,” Scott added. “She’s an exciting filly and will really benefit from the experience.
“Coming back here on Boxing Day for the (G2) Eight Carat Classic seems to be the logical next step.”
Spring Heat was bred in the Hunter Valley by Jennifer Mackay and made $240,000 out of the Sledmere Stud draft at the 2016 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. Her dam Emaurismo is an unraced daughter of AJC Silver Shadow Stakes-Gr.2 winner Katima.
More Than Ready is just finishing his latest southern shuttle season at Vinery and his next target is super-sire Danzig on 198 stakes winners.
