Better Than Ready Chasing Down Spirit Of Boom

Mark Smith - Sunday April 14

The runaway leading first season sire for number of winners, Better Than Ready was represented by his 15th individual winner when the Stuart Kendrick-trained Jagged Edge made an impressive career debut at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.

Looking the consummate professional, like most by his sire, in this 1000 metre QTIS 2- Y-O Maiden, Jagged Edge sat just off the speed set by the favourite Je Suis Belle before James Orman released the brakes.

It was then just a matter of how far for the Darby Racing colour-bearer, which was a widening two and a quarter lengths from Je Suis Belle (Bel Esprit) with Dreamtime Magic (Dream Ahead) a further length back in third.

"He is a really nice horse," Kendrick said, 

"The Darby boys picked him out in Sydney last year. We have been really patient with him. He is a big, strong boy and was impressive today.

"He's a sensible bloke and does everything right, so hopefully he can go on to some nice races over the carnival. He has to take the next step but we might have a nice horse on our hands.

"These Better Than Ready's they just keep doing it. We bought a few at the sales in recent months. They can all gallop and are naturals."

Jagged Edge was a $46,000 purchase by Darby Racing / De Burgh Equine out of the Eureka Stud draft at the 2018 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

A half-brother to Group III MVRC Champagne Stakes winner Dan Baroness (Statue Of Liberty) Jagged Edge is the tenth winner from as many foals out of the Melbourne winning Rubiton mare Weekend Surprise whose yearling colt by Spirit Of Boom was bought by James Harron Bloodstock for a sales-topping $220,000 out of KBL Thoroughbreds draft at the recent Magic Millions March Yearling Sale.

The 20yo Weekend Surprise has a colt foal by Spirit Of Boom but was not covered last season.

Sporting a fee of $33,000 for the upcoming breeding season, Lyndhurst Stud Farm's Better Than Ready is on track to better the 18 first crop winners of Spirit Of Boom last season.


Advertisment
More Reading...
G1 Weekend Double for Pride of Dubai
Pride of Dubai had a Group I double at the weekend with his brilliant mare Bella Nipotina winning the Group I Tatts Tiara and in France overnight his globe-trotting superstar Dubai Honour hit top form winning the Group I Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (2400m).
Sires With Winners - Monday July 1
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
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 Back in Front
At Doomben on Wednesday, Better than Ready posted a 19th two year-old winner for the season to poke his nose back in front of big guns Snitzel and I Am Invincible in the race to be leading Australian sire by two year-old winners.
G1 Aussie Season – Best of the Best
The $700,000 Group I Tatts Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm last Saturday was the last of 74 Australian Group I races run this season that produced 54 individual Group I winners, so let’s take a look at the best of the best.
Dan Vegas Doing Family Proud
Dan Vegas is continuing Totara Park Stud’s outstanding run of success with the family of the unbeaten three-year-old.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
There were some interesting juveniles in action at the Warwick Farm trials on Monday morning with Ciaron Maher saddling three unraced blue blood fillies that all won heats, two of them by champion sire I Am Invincible and the third from his champion daughter Loving Gaby.
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.
No Shuttle for Too Darn Hot
Set to be crowned Australia’s Champion First Season Sire of 2023/2024 Too Darn Hot (GB) will not be coming out to Australia this year with Darley announcing their decision via Twitter.
Camelot Colt Wins G1 Irish Derby
The Camelot x Dansili nick produced it’s second Group I winner of the weekend when quality colt Los Angeles won the Group I Irish Derby following on from Bluestocking winning the Group I Pretty Polly Stakes.