Girls Are Ready Punches Her Ticket to the Gold Coast

Mark Smith - Saturday December 22

Consistent filly Girls Are Ready earned her ticket to the $2 million Magic Millions 2yo Classic at the Gold Coast on January 12 with a thoroughly professional performance in Saturday's 2yo Handicap over 1200 metres at Warwick Farm.

Jumping quickly for Jess Taylor, Girls Are Ready sat alongside the pacesetting favourite Aeecee Vinco who she quickly dropped turning for home. Under a minimum of urging in the closing stages, Girls Are Ready defeated Sebrakate (Sebring) by two lengths with Aeecee Vinco (Charge Forward) three-quarter of a length back in third. (photo Steve Hart) .

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The daughter of Better Than Ready advances her record 2 wins and 1 third from 3 starts with earnings of $81,700.

The race would have been eagerly watched by breeders with all seven starters having siblings on offer at the sales in the new year.

Frank Cleary, the father of winning trainer Joe, said it was now all roads to the Gold Coast.

"Her turn of the foot was the surprising part of it because the plan was to get back and get cover," Frank Cleary said.

"But she began so well, you just don't waste that, particularly with two-year-olds, you've got to be there somewhere.

"Joe's always been happy with her. He said early in the piece that this goes good and he said the one by Epaulette (Maya Miracle) that goes just as good so hopefully the boy has a couple of good ones.

"Joe would have been happy just to get enough prizemoney to get into the race. He'll be sitting back very happy now that it's back to the Gold Coast with the white shoes and gold bangles."

Consigned to the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by her breeder Yarramalong Park, Girls Are Ready 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.

Currently the leading first season sire, Lyndhurst Stud's Better Than Ready has made an outstanding start to his stud career that has taken off at a time when Vinery Stud bids adieu, after 18 wonderful seasons, to his record-setting sire More Than Ready (USA).

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