The richest race in Australia on Friday was the $750,000 King of the Mountain (1200m) at Toowoomba with victory going to Better than Ready’s speed demon Steady Ready.
Trained by Tony & Maddysen Sears, the five year-old gelding broke the track record at Eagle Farm for 1000m last December and was well primed for this assignment at his second run back from a spell.
Steady Ready ran his rivals off their legs, leading for home and giving plenty for Cody Collis to hang on and win by a neck over the late closing Russian Alliance.
It was his third attempt to win the rich slot race having placed in 2023 and 2024.
A stakes-winner last season, Steady Ready is owned by Jayven See and has bloomed since being gelded. He has the overall record of seven wins and eight placings from 19 starts with prizemoney topping $1million.
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 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 Ready.
Our First Lady has been married to Better Than Ready for seven seasons. She has a two year-old colt purchased by Jack Bruce Racing/Clarke Bloodstock Pty Ltd (FBAA)/High Calibre Racing for $120,000 when consigned by Yarramalong Park to the 2024 Magic Millions.
After missing in 2022 and slipping the next year , Our First Lady had a change of pace and was covered by Better Than Ready’s young sire son Alpine Edge last year.
Better Than Ready is enjoying his usual good season with over 100 winners so far earning over $7million in prizemoney putting him in the Top 20 sires by earnings and winners.
