The betting suggested Steady Ready was ready for a peak performance in Saturday’s Listed Ladbrokes Lightning Hcp (1000m) at Eagle Farm, and it proved spot on.
Ridden by Angela Jones for Tony and Maddysen Sears, the 4-year-old son of Better Than Ready shared the lead with Rubiquitous and kept up a relentless gallop to defeat the Spirit Of Boom gelding Golden Boom by two lengths with a long-neck back to the Rubick gelding Rubiquitous in third.
Placed in three of his previous four stakes attempts, Steady Ready advances his record to four wins, three seconds and five thirds from 15 starts with earnings of $595,400.
Maddy Sears had little doubt about the secret to Steady Ready’s return to the winner’s circle.
We’ve always had a very big opinion of the horse, and he’s come back a totally different animal since being gelded. He’s a very fast horse, and he’s more tractable after having the ultimate gear change,” Sears revealed.
“We intended to take a sit; when he found himself in that position, I was worried that it would be a repeat of the Sunshine Coast. But he was too good in the end, and they couldn’t catch him.
“He’s a lovely horse to look at and to have anything to do with. His owner is a great client of ours, and this horse deserves to win a decent race.
“Last time, we stretched him over the 1200 metres, so I think we’ll look for a nice race over that distance in the near future.”
“Ange has ridden some really nice races on him, he just seems to fly for her, so I was really excited to have Ange back on board today.”
A $70,000 purchase for Paul Moroney Bloodstock/Haoh & Co from the Yarramalong Park draft from Book 2 of the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Steady Ready is the best of three winners from as many to race for the Denman mare Our First Lady.
Steady Ready’s 3-year-old brother, My Spy, is off to Hong Kong after winning at Ipswich and the Sunshine Coast.
Steady Ready has an intriguing pedigree as Our First Lady is out of a half-sister to the sire sensation More Than Ready, the sire of Better Than Rady.
Our First Lady has been married to Beter Than Ready for seven seasons. She has a yearling colt purchased by Jack Bruce Racing/Clarke Bloodstock Pty Ltd (FBAA)/High Calibre Racing when consigned by Yarramalong Park to the 2024 Magic Millions.
After missing in 2022, Our First Lady was covered by the Lyndhurst Stud Farm stallion last November.
Steady Ready is the 12th stakes-winner for Better Than Ready.
.jpg)
