Coming off a last start second over 1150m on the Kensington track, Hawkes Racing’s Snitzel filly Ready Forcocktails appreciated the significant drop in weight over the same course and distance on Wednesday, pulling clear by more than two and a quarter lengths to break her maiden in impressive style.
Having shown plenty at home, the well-related Ready Forcocktails started favourite in the field of ten, jumping from barrier six under jockey Tyler Schiller to settle in fourth position behind leader Pharland.
Under a strong hold, Schiller was behind a wall of horses turning for home and once balanced up in the straight, Ready Forcocktails came to the outside where she let down impressively to charge clear at the 200m mark.
“She has always shown so much at home," Schiller said.
“We sort of expected a bit more before this run but she obviously ran into a nice enough two-year-old last start and last prep she probably didn't have a couple of things go her way.
“Today she found the right race to get a bit of confidence under her belt.
“She hasn't got a long sprint so you can't really expose her at the top of the straight but I was surprised how strong she ran through the line considering she usually sprints for about 200m.”
With a win and two second placed efforts from her four starts, the granddaughter of Champion Black Caviar is the first foal of the 2yo placed More Than Ready mare Ready For Caviar who retired from racing after just two starts.
Bred by Mr NJR Werrett, Mrs P Hawkes along with C & J Madden, Ready Forcocktails is the first foal of her dam, with the second Ready For Sure, a full sister to Wednesday’s winner yet to race but has finished fourth in both her jump outs down the Flemington straight.
Ready For Caviar unfortunately slipper to Snitzel in her third season at stud followed by foaling a colt to him last spring, before visiting Golden Slipper winner Faran last season.
From the famed family of not only Black Caviar, but fellow G1 winners All Too Hard, Ole Kirk and Nepotism, Ready Forcocktails is bred on a the potent Snitzel x More Than Ready cross which has produced 40 winners from 44 runners led by G1 Golden Slipper winner Shinzo.
With his final crop set to sell as yearlings in 2027, the much missed Snitzel will be crowned Australian Champion Sire for the 2025/26 season – the fifth time he has been awarded the accolade.
