Better Than Ready For Melbourne Feature

Sold at the same weanling sale as star galloper Pierro, rising Queensland star Better Than Ready emerged as a Melbourne Carnival wildcard when he scored a record breaking win in the Brian Crowley Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

In producing his now customary storming finish, Better Than Ready flew home to set a new track record for the 1200 metre journey – stopping the clock in a blistering 1 minute 8.19 seconds.

The track record was previously held by Northern Meteor in winning the same race before travelling to Melbourne to win the Ascot Vale Stakes at Group One level.

And now Better Than Ready will head to the Spring Carnival capital and attempt to emulate the former Gai Waterhouse trained speedster.

Better Than Ready was purchased on behalf of senior part owner Dan Hayes for $120,000 by Blue Sky Thoroughbreds at the 2010 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale.

He was bred and sold by Ian Smith’s Edinburgh Park – the farm best known for producing Hong Kong champion Silent Witness and his group winning half sibling Sister Madly.

“He has always shown a lot and I think he could be the best I have trained,” trainer Kelly Schweida told reporters after the race.

“I would have been more than happy if he could come here and run in the first three. The trip was a learning curve looking to the future,” he added.

Better Than Ready is the 107th stakes winner for Southern Halo’s Group One winning son and sire sensation More Than Ready.

His latest star is the first stakes winner for the young Sydney winning Agnes World mare Sally’s World.

Sally’s World, who won races to 1200 metres, is a half sister to the stakes winners Publishing and Miss Mooney Mooney.

They are all from the Magic Millions 2YO Classic runner-up Sally Magic, a daughter of Group One winning sprinter Keltrice.

Winner: Better Than Ready
Breeding: More Than Ready-Sally’s World (Agnes World)
Race: ATC Brian Crowley Stakes LR (1200m)
Sold for: $120,000
Sale: 2010 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale
Vendor: Edinburgh Park
Buyer: Blue Sky Thoroughbreds
Earnings: $165,000
Owner(s): Goldstar Thoroughbreds (Mgr: DC Hayes), JD Maclean, S Duselis, RJ Zuttion, CR Frampton, DP Tynan, BP Tobin, A Salpietro & MA Tobin
Trainer: Kelly Schweida (Eagle Farm)