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.

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"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.


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