Southern Cross News Ready for Better Company February 11 - Progressive More Than Ready (USA) gelding Readiness continued his march through the grades when he scored a strong win in the Become a Member Now Handicap (1550m) at Randwick on Wednesday. A winner of his previous start at Rosehill, Readiness was sent out the favourite and despite getting well back in the field, he was able to finish over the top of his rivals to win stylishly. Winning trainer Gwenda Markwell is delighted with the progression of the four-year-old More Than Ready gelding - now the winner of five of his 11 starts with prizemoney of $103,330. "It was a good effort and a top ride from Corey (Brown)," Markwell said. "That's Corey he outsmarts them." "He's the best," she added. Brown said the race went pretty much to plan, although there was a stage in the race when he got a little anxious. "I was happy to come back (off the speed)," Brown said. "The tempo was really solid especially from the mile." "I was very concerned on straightening. But he came on in the straight nicely and got the job done." And Brown said the best thing about Readiness is that he can only keep on improving into the future. "I just told the connections that he's still not there," Brown noted. "He's still learning and he's still a bit of a baby."
Readiness (pictured as a yearling) , by star Vinery Stud sire More Than Ready, is one of two multiple winners from his dam Scale the Heights. A four time winning daughter of Snaadee, Scale the Heights is one of four good winners produced by the stakes performed Laudham Mist. Readiness was purchased by senior part owner Fred Alam for $75,000 from the draft of Southern Cross Breeders at the 2007 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale (Session 5). |
"There's a bit left in him."