More Than Ready: daughters kicking goals as broodmares

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Saying that More Than Ready (USA) was a regular visitor to Vinery Stud could be an understatement.

The stallion started shuttling in 2001 and covered his final book of mares at Vinery Stud in 2019, marking an extraordinary 19 seasons of shuttle service, highlighting his iron-like constitution.

More Than Ready was the foundation sire for the now powerful WinStar Farm organisation in North America, Kentucky, and proved something of an anomaly, as he proved equally influential in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The son of Southern Halo (USA) sired 218 stakes winners worldwide.

Among them was his Champion daughter More Joyous (NZ), two Golden Slipper winners in Phelan Ready and Sebring, the latter would become an outstanding stallion until his untimely demise.

The brilliant juvenile, now broodmare Samaready was a dual Group 1 victress. The multiple Breeders’ Cup champion Roy H (USA), the fantastic Uni (GB) and the G1 Travers S. hero Catholic Boy (USA) are a few US stars that bear More Than Ready’s name as sire.

Gallery: Some of More Than Ready's (USA) Group 1-winning progeny, images courtesy of Sportpix

Not the usual

It shouldn't be overlooked that More Than Ready was a capable galloper, claiming the G1 King’s Bishop S. and the G2 Sanford S. included in his seven career victories.

He showed tenacity by finishing fourth in the G1 Kentucky Derby and the G1 Haskell Invitational, despite either race falling in his distance forte.

Despite this, More Than Ready at the time had what one may call an ‘obscure or unfashionable pedigree’. More Than Ready's sire Southern Halo ran second in the G1 Swaps S. at the now defunct Hollywood Park.

However, Southern Halo would become the most successful stallion in Argentine history, siring 173 stakes winners, with the majority in South America. Upon his death, he was buried at Haras La Quebrada.

More Than Ready was a grandson of Halo (USA), a successful stallion that is more remembered for his ferocious temperament. Halo was reported to have savaged several people and had to wear a muzzle.

When More Than Ready made his first expedition to Australia in 2001, he wasn’t exactly the usual prototype that Australian breeders were seeking; it proved a little of an obstacle, though, as More Than Ready became a key outcross to Danehill (USA) blood that proved so revolutionary in Australia.

And for some, it is arguable that only Danehill himself had proven more influential as a reverse shuttle stallion.

Broodmare sire on the rise

Like most prolific stallions, More Than Ready is easily transitioning as a broodmare sire.

This season alone, More Than Ready is responsible for the most Group 1 winners as a broodmare sire. He is the broodmare sire of the Chris Waller-trained rising 3-year-old Shinzo (Snitzel), who claimed the G1 Golden Slipper.

Shinzo is a son of More Than Ready's outstanding daughter Samaready, who won the G1 Blue Diamond S. and the G1 Moir S.

Samaready has proven a brilliant representative for More Than Ready, having also produced multiple stakes winner and R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic victress Exhilarates (Snitzel).

Coolangatta (Written Tycoon) is from the More Than Ready mare Piping Hot, and she supplied a further two Group 1 victories for her broodmare sire with wins in the G1 Moir S. and G1 Lighting S.

Coolangatta’s dam Piping Hot was sold for $3 million to Tom Magnier at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in May this year.

King Colorado (Kingman {GB}), who scored an impressive victory in the G1 JJ Atkins S., is from the More Than Ready mare More Aspen (USA). The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained colt, appears he can add more Group 1 victories to his tally.

Furthermore, More Than Ready is the broodmare sire of two potential Group 1 winners in waiting, including Knight’s Choice (Extreme Choice) an uber-impressive winner of the G3 Winx Guineas on the Sunshine Coast on Saturday. And the smart juvenile Chantilly Lace (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}) took the Listed Castletown S. in New Zealand by 10l earlier last month.

More Than Ready has also proven to gel rather well with his former Vinery Stud barn mate, All Too Hard. Combined with the daughters of More Than Ready, he produced the triple Group 1 winner Forbidden Love and Wellington, who was crowned the Champion Sprinter in Hong Kong for 2021/22.

Like Piping Hot, Forbidden Love would find herself on the Gold Coast in May for the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, knocked down to Yulong for $4.1 million.

As a broodmare sire, More Than Ready is also responsible for the Group 1 winners Miracles Of Life (Not A Single Doubt), Celebrity Queen (Redoute’s Choice) and Cafe Pharoah (USA) (American Pharoah {USA}).

The success underlines More Than Ready's incredible versatility and ability to combine with many stallions successfully.

Prominent in the Premiership

More Than Ready is prominent across all categories on the Leading Australian Broodmare Sires' table for the 2022/23 Season.

He has been represented by 518 runners, of which an individual 218 have won 341 races, including stakes winners earning $19,552, 451 which places him seventh overall on earnings and fourth on the wins and winners' categories.

More Than Ready is seventh on stake wins and stakes winners' categories. It should also be noted More Than Ready has held a top 10 spot on the Leading Australian Broodmare Sires' table since 2017.

All of this comes as no surprise, especially to Adam White, bloodstock manager for Vinery Stud.

“It’s no surprise to see More Than Ready continue to have an influence as a maternal sire in this part of the world. He was such a prolific sire not only here but worldwide,” White told TDN AusNZ.

“The fact he was twice Champion 2-Year-Old Sire here in Australia and having produced two Golden Slipper winners and a Blue Diamond winner as a sire was a big indication that stock from his daughters would also feature prominently in our rich juvenile races. It has been highlighted this year with the Slipper winner Shinzo and King Colorado winning Group 1s this year.

“We shouldn’t forget Coolangatta herself was a former winner of the Magic Millions 2YO Classic.”

White and the whole of Vinery Stud will forever be grateful to the deeds of More Than Ready and are taking huge satisfaction watching his daughters producing elite winners.

“More Than Ready has been such an incredible influence not only on our farm but for the Australian industry as a whole. It’s fantastic to see it continue as it will for generations.”