Better Than Ready's Already A Star Makes Winning Debut

Mark Smith - Wednesday July 5

Natalie McCall looks to have secured a rare bargain in the long-striding Better Than Ready gelding Already A Star, who impressed on debut in the XXXX Dry Maiden Plate (1200m) at Eagle Farm.

Given a ground-saving ride from an inside gate by James Orman, Already A Star looked like the consummate professional in defeating the Sebring gelding Fiery Ring by three-quarters of a length with the Rothesay gelding Quothquan a neck back in third.

"He’s a beautiful horse, and the owners have been super patient with him,” Natalie McCall said.

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“He has had on-and-off issues. He is a big lanky guy with a nice motor, so getting a victory for the patient fellows is nice.

“He was aided by the fence and a good Orman ride, but he is still learning with plenty of improvement left in him."

Only two of the 34 Better Than Ready yearlings sold in 2021 made less than the $8,000 needed for McCall to secure Already A Star from the Bowness Stud draft at the 2021 Inglis HTBA May Yearling Sale.

He is the first winner for the unraced Starcraft mare Tahlia Star.

Already A Star an $8,000 Inglis HTBA May Yearling

A half-sister to the Group II MVRC Ian McEwen Stakes winner Wild Rain (Manhattan Rain) and the stakes-placed Flowerchild (Redoute’s Choice), Tahlia Star was a $27,500 purchase for Bowness Stud from the Yarramalong Park Reduction at the 2019 National Broodmare Sale when carrying Already A Star.

From the family of the champion Northerly, Tahlia Star was sold for just $700 at the 2023 Inglis April (Late) Online Sale. She has a yearling filly by D'Argento, which sold to Namerik Thoroughbreds for $24,000 from the Bowness Stud draft at the 2022 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale.

Tahlia Star was covered by D'Argento last spring.

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Race Result - XXXX Dry Mdn Plate 1200m

Eagle Farm Track: Soft(6) Time: 1:13.15
1
Already A Star
- 3g Better Than Ready (AUS) x Tahlia Star (AUS) (Starcraft (NZ))
Tnr: Natalie McCall Rdr: James Orman 57
2
0.8
Fiery Ring
- 3g Sebring (AUS) x Scorched (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: K R Kemp Rdr: Melea Castle 54
3
1.1
Quothquan
- 3g Rothesay (AUS) x Jennifer Juniper (AUS) (Time Thief (AUS))
Tnr: J Dann Rdr: Angela Jones 55.5
4
1.6
Kai Tak
- 3f Snitzel (AUS) x Subsequent (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Jack Bruce Rdr: S T Collett 55
5
1.9
Boom Torque
- 3g Spirit Of Boom (AUS) x Outback Saga (AUS) (Real Saga (AUS))
Tnr: Kacy Fogden Rdr: A Mallyon 57
6
2.0
Elroy
- 3g Jet Spur (AUS) x Rose Of Destiny (AUS) (Irgun (USA))
Tnr: K C Anderson Rdr: Taylor Marshall 57
7
2.7
Neoclassicism
- 3g Wandjina (AUS) x Treatmelikealady (AUS) (Real Saga (AUS))
Tnr: R L Heathcote Rdr: Martin Harley 57
8
4.1
Better Be Nordy
- 3g Better Than Ready (AUS) x Miss Le Nord (AUS) (Northern Meteor (AUS))
Tnr: R L Heathcote Rdr: Ben Thompson 57
9
4.3
Johnny Utah
- 3g Power (GB) x Coogee Curls (AUS) (Zeditave (AUS))
Tnr: Chris Munce Rdr: Justin Huxtable 57
10
11.3
Time For Jack
- 3g Tosen Stardom (JPN) x Suspended Time (AUS) (Gilded Time (USA))
Tnr: K J Jones Rdr: Luke Tarrant 57
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