Vinery sire More Than Ready confirmed his status a living legend with a rapid-fire Group winning double in North America on Saturday.

Sir Truebadour became More Than Ready’s 188th black-type winner in the Bashford Manor Stakes Gr.3 at Churchill Downs and five minutes later Funtastic landed the United Nations Stakes Gr.1 at Monmouth Park.

Funtastic is his 189th stakes winner and 22nd Group 1 winner.  He also came close to notching another at the elite level on a day to remember when Lady Alexandra was narrowly beaten in the Highlander Stakes Gr.1 at Woodbine.

Sir Truebadour (2c More Than Ready – Kivi by King of Kings) led at every panel to win the Bashford Manor by two lengths on closing day of the spring meet at Churchill Downs.  Trained by Steve Asmussen, he had won a maiden under the Twin Spires by four lengths in May before a strong fourth in the Tremont Stakes Gr.3 at Belmont Park on June 8.

“Steve set him for this race and he’s done a great job with this colt,” jockey Ricardo Santana said.  “He is very fast early and got the lead out of the gate.  He was a little tired late but held on nicely.”

Sir Truebadour is a younger brother of 2011 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Regally Ready and will be one of the early favourites for this year’s Breeders’ Cup Juveniles at Churchill Downs in November.

Trainer Chad Brown has a great record with More Than Ready but he wasn’t taking all the kudos after Funtastic won the United Nations Stakes Gr.1 at Monmouth Park.  The emerging stayer was making his debut in Group company over 2200m after 3 wins in 8 starts.

Brown prepared More Than Ready’s 21st Group 1 winner when Rushing Fall claimed last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar.

“Funtastic is an improving horse but I have to give most of the credit to the owner Goncalo Torrealba,” Brown admitted.  “I told him it was a pretty tough race but he said, ‘No, I want to run.  I believe in him’.”

Funtastic (4c More Than Ready – Quiet Dance by Quiet American) has instant stud appeal as a half-brother to 2005 USA Horse of the Year Saint Liam.  And his half-sister Quiet Giant is the dam of 2017 USA Horse of the Year Gun Runner.

More Than Ready returns to Vinery for his 18th southern season this year at a $66,000 (inc GST) service fee.