Smart Stakes Double

Since relocating to Twin Hills Stud last year the stakes-winners have flowed for Fastnet Rock stallion Smart Missile, who added a double of new stakes-winners to his ever growing tally on Saturday with victories for Ready to Prophet in the Listed Denises's Joy Stakes at Scone and for Missile Mantra in the Listed MRC Redoute's Choice Stakes at Caulfield.

Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, three year-old filly Ready to Prophet showed serious stakes potential last spring when finishing fourth to Fiesta in the Group II ATC Silver Shadow Stakes, but failed to flatter in two subsequent starts.

Resuming from a spell at Scone on Saturday, she was easy in the market and got no favours from a wide gate, but was tenacious to the line in running down smart Zoustar filly Madam Rouge to win the 1100 metre sprint by a head.

"She was wide and facing the breeze, but she just kept trying so it was very impressive," said Gai Waterhouse.

"In time I think she'll be even better at 1400 metres."

A modest $40,000 Magic Millions purchase for Dynamic Syndications from the Torryburn Stud draft, Ready to Prophet has won two races from six starts earning over $140,000 for her big group of happy owners.

Bred by Torryburn Stud, Ready Prophet is the best of four winners from stakes-winning More Than Ready mare Ready to Live (USA), a half-sister to the dam of Group I winner Itsmyluckyday.

Torryburn Stud sold Ready to Live last year at the Inglis Broodmare Sale for $17,000 where she was snapped up by Miranda Park Bloodstock. She produced a filly for her new owners by Wandjina and is in foal to Rich Enuff.

Ready to Prophet became the 12^th stakes-winner for Smart Missile and he did not have long to wait for his 13^th with undefeated two year-old filly Missile Mantra scoring a barnstorming win in the Listed MRC Redoute's Choice Stakes at Caulfield.

The Peter and Paul Snowden trained filly charged home from back in the field under Beau Mertens to win the 1200 metre sprint running away by three quarters of a length over Grand Scholar and Express Pass, who are both by first season sire Wandjina.

It was her second win in as many starts and she has now won over $100,000 in prizemoney.

A $30,000 Magic Millions purchase for Triple Crown Syndications from the Arrowfield Stud draft, Missile Mantra was bred by Arrowfield and is the first winner for Starcraft mare Wecansay Mak a winning full sister to Group I winner We Can Say it Now.

Smart Missile was one of the busiest sires in Australia last spring covering 222 mares at fee of $13,200 and has had a deserved increase this year going back to his original fee of $22,000.