VINERY’S champion stallion More Than Ready’s reputation as a global sire is evident yet again when three of his star progeny tackle G1 races on three continents this Saturday.
Leading the way among the trio is the outstanding U.S 3yo filly, Room Service, who is looking for her fourth straight win when she contests the $1m Belmont Oaks in New York.
Room Service has quickly established herself as one of the best of her age and sex in the USA thanks to consecutive victories in the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes and American Oaks at her two most recent outings.
Meanwhile in the UK, the Kentucky-bred Verrazano is out to add the Group 1 Coral Eclipse Stakes (2200m) to his impressive resume which already boasts Grade 1 wins in the Wood Memorial and Haskell Invitational at `home’ before leaving for his news digs at Ballydoyle.
Verrazano, the former Todd Pletcher trainee who, after an announcement of his retirement to stud was made last season, wound up in Ireland with trainer Aidan O’Brien this season will take on The Fugue amongst others. Verrazano has done well switching continents and racing surfaces, finishing third over a mile in the J.T. Lockinge G.1 and second over the same course last start in the Queen Anne G.1 at Ascot. The rise in distance to 2000m looks to suit Verrazano’s chances. O’Brien has won the Eclipse five of the last 14 years.
Rounding out More Than Ready’s `big three’ is the Australian-bred Readytogorightnow who is expected to feature prominently at the end of the R3.5 Vodafone Durban July (2200m) at Kenilworth in South Africa.
The Justin Snaith trained galloper boasts the celebrated racehorse and matron Denise’s Joy as his third dam which makes him a very close genetic relation to our own 8-times Group 1 winner More Joyous (by More Than Ready).
