Improving off a third in the Listed Lightning Handicap at Eagle Farm recently, 4yo Better Than Ready gelding Metalart stepped up to 1200m to record his first black type success, winning the Group 3 W J Healy Stakes.
Giving trainer Kelly Schweida his second black type winner of the day after the earlier success of Miss Joelene, the Jason Collett ridden gelding settled back in the field with only a handful of runners behind him while the Tony Gollan-trained Hidden Wealth (Better Than Ready) was bowling along in front.
Still in the lead as the field headed for home in the last of the day, Hidden Wealth was travelling strongly before Collett began to make ground along the inside aboard Metalart, slowly reeling in the leader to pull away and record victory.
Getting up to earn his first black type victory, Metalart defeated the Anthony and Sam Freedman trained Austmaar (Exosphere) by three parts of a length, with a similar margin back to the well-fancied General Salute (Russian Revolution) from the Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou yard who got up for third just ahead of the tiring Hidden Wealth.
Settling back in the run in his usual pattern, the Peter Snowden trained favourite Need Some Luck (Rubick) failed to quicken when needed, finishing just under four and a half lengths from the winner in eighth.
Taking his overall record to eight wins and four placed performances from 14 starts and over $420,000 in earnings, Schweida is still unsure of the heights the gelding can reach.
"I don't know where his ceiling is, he just keeps winning. It's quite incredible really,” stated Schweida.
“He's a very unassuming horse, but he got a gun ride today. He goes to sleep in the tie-ups, he's so quiet and lovely and he doesn't look like a racehorse, but he's a pretty good one."
"He probably should have won a stakes race by now, he went close on a Heavy 11 track when he was only beaten a neck, and he almost came from behind the other day. We got the saloon passage from the good gate today."
After recording a narrow second aboard Sibaaq (GB) in the Listed Tattersall’s Mile, the Healy Stakes victory was the first win on the card for Collett.
"He's got such a great attitude. Once he got going the run was easy, and he was strong late,” Stated Collett.
“I remember seeing him over the Christmas period when Michael Rodd won on him, and he looked impressive that day.”
“I'd say 1400 metres is probably his best trip, so it was a good sign that he was able to win over 1200 metres today."
Bred by Raheen Stud, Metalart is the first stakes winner from six winners out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Exquisite Art, herself a half-sister to the dam of Group 3 winner Sookie (Casino Prince), who is in turn the dam of the dual Group 1 winner Shadow Hero (Pierro).
Metalart’s grand-dam is the Champion 2YO Filly and dual Group 1 winner Victory Vein (Mr Henrysee), who also finished a narrow second in the Group 1 Golden Slipper of her year.
Exquisite Art’s current 2yo is a filly by Heroic Valour who was exported to Philippines in July of 2024 and although the mare was not covered in 2022 and 2023, she was covered last spring by Dark Angel’s Group 1 Epsom Handicap winner Top Ranked (IRE).
Metalart becomes the 15th stakes winners for one of Queensland’s favourite sires Better Than Ready, who will stand the upcoming spring at a fee of $27,500 (inc. GST) at Lyndhust Stud.
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