Vale More Than Ready

Mark Smith - Friday Aug 26

Sad news coming out of Kentucky, More Than Ready (USA) was euthanised at WinStar Farm on August 26 due to cumulative effects of old age.

The 25yo son of Southern Halo was the rarest of all stallions, equally successful in both hemispheres.

A generation of fans made the trek to Vinery to see More Than Ready (image Mark Smith)

More Than Ready (USA) shuttled to Vinery Stud for 19 consecutive seasons from 2001-19. He hit his stride immediately with Group 1 AJC Champagne Stakes winner Carry on Cutie and Group 1 VRC Derby hero Benicio coming from his first crop. He also sired consecutive winners of the Golden Slipper with Sebring and Phelan Ready.

Sebring proved a top-class stallion, as has Lyndhurst Stud Farm's prolific Better Than Ready.

Kooringal Stud's Group 1 ATC Champagne Stakes and VRC Derby winner Prized Icon has his first runners this season.

Advertisement

"More Than Ready was an amazing horse who touched everyone he came in contact with," said Elliott Walden, president, CEO, and racing manager of WinStar Farm.

"He may not have been the biggest horse in the barn, but he more than made up for it in class, balance, and character. His expressions said it all. We will greatly miss him at the farm."

More Than Ready (USA) (image Mark Smith)

He has sired a world-record 2118 winners to date, and his total of 216 black-type stakes winners worldwide ranks him behind only Galileo, Danehill and Sadler's Wells.

The most successful performer for More Than Ready (USA) was John Singleton's wonderful mare More Joyous who won eight at the highest level, two more than the Champion Turf Female in USA in 2020-11, Rushing Fall.

Advertisment

More Reading...

Remembering Northerly – The Greatest Caulfield Cup Winner This Century

It's Caulfield Cup week, and what better moment to revisit the life and times of one of the greatest - if not the greatest - Caulfield Cup winner of the modern era.

Expensive Ready to Run Graduate Primed for G1 NZ 2000 Guineas

There is plenty of hype surrounding promising gelding Thunder In Motion ahead of Saturday’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton, and trainer Mark Forbes is hoping he can deliver in the southern Classic.

Juvenile Trial Watch – Warwick Farm

Three trials for juveniles were run at Warwick Farm on Thursday morning with winners for Ciaron Maher, Bjorn Baker and the Waterhouse Bott stable.

Breeding To Win - G1 CF Orr Stakes

The last Autumn running of the CF Orr Stakes in 2025 closed a long chapter when Another Wil narrowly denied Mr Brightside consecutive victories and the historic first running of the “new” race in November last year had a worthy winner in race favourite Jimmysstar, who is back to defend his title.

Alabama Express Filly to Back up in G1 2000 NZ Guineas

Dashing Dixie was the bridesmaid last weekend when runner-up to Angels Halo in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), and her connections are hoping she can be the bride on Saturday when she backs up in the Gr.2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton.

ATO Takes Harder Line on Losses

For such a contentious topic—particularly for participants in the thoroughbred industry—the wait for updated ATO guidance on whether an activity is a “business” or a “hobby” has certainly been a long one.

2027 Golden Slipper Entries – Sortable Sale Mail – Find Out More

The new season is nearly upon us and that means all over the country a new crop of rising two year-olds are taking baby steps in the best stables in the land with the Australian Turf Club announcing this week they had received 1881 entries for the 2027 Golden Slipper, so who is in the race?

Remembering Sunline – The Queen of the Cox Plate Before Winx

From our vantage point in 2026, we can look back at modern Cox Plate history and marvel at how quickly the years are passing.

Gundagai Maiden Winners Collect $72,000!

For many racehorses the only race they will ever win is their maiden and Inglis have spread the money into this very important area with their Xtra Bonus Series and two $50,000 bonuses went off at the always popular Snake Gully Cup meeting at Gundagai on Friday to the great delight of connections of Essay and Southern Grace.

South Australian Breeders Celebrate Cup Week Racing

Often considered the pinnacle of racing in Australia, the week-long Flemington carnival draws together four days of outstanding racing with South Australian bred runners playing a strong hand in this year’s results, winning on each of the four days.