Sixth Winner for Better Than Ready

Mark Smith - Friday December 14

Lyndhurst Stud's exciting first season sire Better Than Ready kept his hot run going when Girls Are Ready showed a liking for the heavy track at Canterbury on Friday by downing the favourite Devachan in the 2yo Maiden Plate (1200m).

Ridden by Jess Taylor, Girls Are Ready tracked the tearaway leader Devachan who was over-racing for Kerrin McEvoy.

When Devachan began to shorten stride, Girls Are Ready pounced to win going away by one and three-quarter lengths from Devachan (Exceed And Excel) with War Baron (Declaration Of War) another length and a quarter back in third.

Advertisement

A well-beaten third at Canberra when making her debut over 1000 metres, the Joe Cleary-trained filly appreciated the step up in distance according to the winning rider.


"Last start over the 1000m she struggled to keep up early and never travelled that well but she still hit the line really well and with the 1200m today she was able to get out and get in a nice spot," Taylor said.

"I still think she will get further because she was still under pressure the whole way but she is an honest little filly and I got a nice cart into the race, was able to cut back to the inside and I was pretty confident from the top of the straight. She got through the going really well and put them away."

Consigned to the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by her breeder Yarramalong Park, Girls Are Ready (pictured as a yearling) was purchased by Joe Cleary for $30,000.

She is the first foal of the Commands mare Commanding Epic a half-sister to the stakes-placed She's Miss Devine out of a half-sister to Group II Light Fingers Stakes winner Sharp (Danzero) from the family of the Group 1 Flight Stakes winner Angst (Kala Dancer).

Yarramalong Park will offer the full sister to Girls are Ready at the 2019 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale as Lot 577.

Girls Are Ready becomes the sixth winner for the leading first-crop sire Better Than Ready who has been well-supported at Lyndhurst Stud particularly by Yarramalong Park who also bred Better Than Ready's Doomben winner Betaima the recent Rockhampton Lepreezy.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Pedigree Updates Add to Karaka 2026 Excitement
Anticipation has been rapidly building in the countdown to the milestone 100th New Zealand National Yearling Sale, and a series of significant pedigree updates have only added to the hype.
Magic Millions – First Season Favourites
We know the sun will rise every morning and that thunder will always follow lightning, just as we knew Anamoe was going to dominate the first season sires at Magic Millions this year, but the stallion that was second on the list was a lot less predictable.
Shamus Award Filly Lands Mega Maiden Bonus for Te Akau
The Karaka Millions and NZB’s National Yearling Sale are among the most important dates on the calendar for Te Akau Racing, and they kicked off the big week on a perfect note on Monday with first-starter Bolli Belle (Shamus Award) striking a NZB Mega Maiden bonus at Wanganui.
17 Winners for Better Than Ready
It’s been an amazing season for Lyndhurst Stud’s exciting young sire Better Than Ready and it got better again on Wednesday when he posted his 17th first crop winner with a Sunshine Coast victory for talented gelding Ready to Roam.
More Choice, More Opportunity at the New-Look MM March Sale
The best incentive sale in Australasia is set to deliver even more for buyers in 2026 with a quality packed catalogue for the Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale now online
Winner Number 23 for Better Than Ready
After the Tony Sears-trained filly Better Thinking opened her account with a three and a half-length romp when on debut at Toowoomba on Saturday to make it winner number 22 for Better Than Ready, the high-flying Lyndhurst Stud stallion took his tally to 23 on Sunday but this one came with a bit of a difference.
Better Than Ready Hits 21
Lyndhurst Stud’s long-time front-runner Better Than Ready continues to repel the formidable challenges of Deep Field and Rubick for number of individual winners by a first season sire after Golly Hut broke his maiden at the Sunshine Coast on Wednesday to become winner number 21.
Elsdon Park Building Great Record of Success
Lib and Katrina Petagna’s Elsdon Park is fast building a reputation for excellence despite still being in its infancy.
Better Than Ready Hits 20
We thought last season we were seeing something exceptional when bargain priced sire Spirit of Boom churned out 18 Australian first crop winners, but lightning has struck twice with another modestly priced Queenslander in Better than Ready equalling and surpassing his figures.
Magic Millions 2026 – Pinhook Winners
The Magic Millions Yearling Sale last week was fertile ground for pinhookers with 23 yearlings selling for $100,000 or more above their weanling purchase price in Book 1.