Spring Heat has pleased co-trainer Lance O’Sullivan coming out of her smooth victory in Auckland on Saturday.

The More Than Ready mare turned up the heat for another competitive summer campaign when racing second-up in the Electrolux Hcp (1200m) at Ellerslie.  She was a class above that field and has firmed into $11 for the Sistema Railway Gr.1 on New Year’s Day.

Spring Heat proved she was up to elite-level in this year’s Telegraph Hcp Gr.1 at Trentham.  After being held up at a crucial stage in the straight, she flashed home for third behind Avantage and Enzo’s Lad.

“We were expecting a strong performance even with the big weight (59kg) and our new apprentice Kozzi Asano gave her a lovely ride,” O’Sullivan said.  “I couldn’t be happier with the way she’s pulled up.  She’s a quality animal and has trotted up nice and bright since Saturday.

“She’s definitely going as good as last summer and I think she’s a Top 3 pick in the Railway.  She loves Ellerslie and will take further improvement out of that win.”

Spring Heat (6m More Than Ready – Emaurismo by Redoute’s Choice) first came to attention winning the 2017 Bonecrusher Stakes Gr.3 at Ellerslie before a creditable fifth at her first Group 1 test in the Levin Classic at Trentham.

Bred by Jenny Mackay at Cangon Stud in Dungog, she made $240,000 out of the Sledmere Stud draft to the 2016 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.  Her dam Emaurism is an unraced daughter of Katima (Silver Shadow Stakes Gr.2) and she has another More Than Ready filly entered for next month’s Gold Coast Magic Millions.

Mackay nominated that filly through Sledmere Stud as Lot 259 during the second session on Wednesday, January 13.

Among the More Than Ready yearlings from Vinery is the half-sister to exciting Star Turn filly Miss Hipstar who cruised home on debut at Doomben last month.  Catalogued as Lot 800, she is being offered (as agent) for Vinery partner Steve McCann (Encompass Bloodstock).

The Vinery legend has another pedigree page on the improve with Lot 776, the colt from Sharpness (Wanted) who is also being offered by Vinery as agent for McCann.  He’s a half-brother to Deep Speed who was Stakes placed at Flemington and Moonee Valley in November.

Deep Speed holds a nomination for the $2 million Magic Millions 3yo Guineas RL on January 16.   “He’s a deep, strong colt who’s really thrived on his training,” trainer Tony McEvoy said.  “He cracked a splint bone early on and they take a lot of time to heal.  But I gave him even more time than the vet suggested.  That’s how much I think of him.”