BREEDING SUGGESTIONS FROM ALAN PORTER
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A while ago we suggested that in its search for an outcross sire line for the Northern Dancer, and particularly Danzig and Danehill, Australia may have found an answer in the Hail to Reason line. We have already considered one branch of that line, that of Roberto through Red Ransom (who is responsible for Leading Freshman Sire Charge Forward). Now we’ll look at the Halo branch through More Than Ready.
More Than Ready is by Southern Halo. A son of Halo out of a Northern Dancer mare (and so inbred 3 x 4 to Almahmoud, the granddam of Halo and Northern Dancer), Southern Halo never won a stakes, although he was very narrowly beaten in the the Super Derby (G1), and also took second in the Swaps Stakes (G1). Retired to stud in Argentina, Southern Halo became the greatest sire in modern history in that country, carrying off the Champion Sire title eight times. Imported to the U.S., he made less impact there, but did get an exceptional runner in the shape of More Than Ready.
At two, More Than Ready was a sensation in the spring and summer, winning his first five races, including the Flash Stakes, WHAS-11 Stakes, Tremont Stakes (G3) – by 4½ lengths in a new track record – and the Sanford Stakes (G2), by 9¾ lengths. When More Than Ready journeyed to upstate New York for the prestigious Saratoga meet, some writers were even lauding him as the most exciting two-year-old to arrive at the spa since Man ‘o War. Surprisingly, however, after his spectacular Sanford Stakes score, More Than Ready failed to win again that season, finishing third in the Futurity Stakes (G1), and off the board Champagne Stakes (G1).
More Than Ready opened his three-year-old campaign by dead-heating for the win in the Hutcheson Stakes (G2). Even though his first year had suggested that speed was More Than Ready’s strength, he was then set for a Kentucky Derby (G1) campaign. He was second, beaten two lengths, in the Louisiana Derby (G2), and second again in the Blue Grass Stakes (G2), going down by just a head to High Yield. In the Derby itself, More Than Ready gave it his best shot battling for the lead into the stretch, before becoming rubber-legged in the final furlong, eventually finishing up fourth, six lengths behind the winner Fusaichi Pegasus. Persisted with at middle-distances, More Than Ready took second in the Dwyer Handicap (G2) and fourth in the Haskell Invitational Handicap (G1). Reverting to sprinting, More Than Ready cut back to seven furlongs, and captured North America’s top three-year-old sprint event, the King’s Bishop Stakes (G1). That effort was followed by with an excellent second in the Vosburgh Handicap (G1) over the same trip. Fifth, beaten just 3½ lengths, in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), More Than Ready was almost certainly showing the effects of his demanding campaign when he ended his career with a fourth in the Cigar Mile (G1).
Although he had never been tried on turf, More Than Ready had a number of credentials that suggested his offspring might be suited to Australian conditions. As his race-record shows, he was fast, precocious, and tough. His sire, Southern Halo had several outstanding winners on grass, and was by Halo, a top-class turf runner, whose son, Don’t Say Halo, had been Leading Freshman Sire in Australia. In addition, More Than Ready is out of a mare by Woodman, a Champion Two-Year-Old on turf in Ireland, and a very successful sire of turf runners.
The theory that More Than Ready would do well in Australia has been born out in practice. He has been a very solid sire in North America (where his runners have excelled on turf) and he is currently serving his Northern Hemisphere mares at a fee of US$45,000 (around A$63,000), but in Australia, he has been a sensation, particularly as a sire of juveniles.
More Than Ready emulated his fellow Halo line horse, Don’t Say Halo, by carrying off the 2004-2005 Freshman Sire title; earned honours as Champion Sire of Two-Year-Olds for 2007-2008; and looks certain to retain his crown this season.
So far, More Than Ready’s Southern Hemisphere crops have yielded five grade one winners, including back-to-back Golden Slipper (G1) winners, Sebring and Phelan Ready (with Augusta Proud and Phelan Ready combining to credit him with the unique achievement of having the winners of both the Magic Millions and Golden Slipper two years running). His remaining trio that have scored at the highest level have done so over a wide range of distances, with Perfectly Ready taking the Goodwood Handicap (G1), Carry On Cutie the Champagne Stakes (G1), and Benicio the Victoria Derby (G1). More Than Ready’s other Australian graded winners include current season stakes scorers Colour, More Joyous, Oloana, Ready to Lift, and Fritz’s Princess.
The good news for Australian breeders is that only not only will More Than Ready be returning to Vinery for the 2009-2010 breeding season, but three of his sons, Benicio, Sebring and Ready’s Image will also be available.
Bred by Vinery, and sold by them for $525,000 at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sales, Benicio returned home to stand alongside his sire. His first crop will be two-year-olds next season. Despite having the pedigree and physique of a precocious speedster, Benicio produced the performance of his life to win the Victoria Derby (G1) over 2500m. Benicio is out of the Blue Diamond Prelude (G3) winner, and Blue Diamond Stakes (G1) third, Mannington, a daughter of Danehill and Champion Two-Year-Old Filly Bint Marscay. Mannington is also dam of the Red Ransom filly, Romneya, winner of two graded stakes this term, and Mannington’s Coolmore Classic (G1) winning half-sister, Bollinger, is dam of Friesan Fire, one of the best U.S. three-year-olds of 2009.
Sebring, who retires to Widden, was one of the best two-year-olds seen out in recent years. He won his first five starts, including the Golden Slipper (G1) and Sires’ Produce Stakes (G1), and missed winning the juvenile Triple Crown by just a head when second in the Champagne Stakes (G1), his third race in as many weeks. When one considers the the distaff side of Sebring’s pedigree, it should come as no surprise that he was a juvenile standout. His dam and granddam are both by Golden Slipper winners – Flying Spur and Luskin Star respecitively – and he’s from the immediate family of Golden Slipper winner and important speed sire, Baguette.
Less familiar will be the performances of the U.S.-raced Ready’s Image, who will be the first stallion to stand at Nick Posa’s Lincoln-Walmac Associated Farms (near Scone). Ready’s Image is the best U.S. raced son of More Than Ready, but perhaps more significant is that four-times Champion trainer Todd Pletcher, who conditioned More Than Ready for the same connections, called Ready’s Image “the best two-year-old I’ve ever trained.” The most expensive More Than Ready yearling of his crop, Ready’s Image scored over 4½ furlongs on his debut, then went on to emulate his sire by added the Tremont Stakes (by 7¾ lengths), and Sandford Stakes (G2), which he took by four lengths from subsequent grade one winner Tale of Ekati. Favorite next out for the grade one Hopeful Stakes, Ready’s Image chased the pace of the brilliant debutant winner Maimonides, before assuming command after a second quarter, in 22 and change, and six furlongs in 1:09.2. However, this effort took its toll, and Ready’s Image was caught close home, taking second. Subsequently Ready’s Image was found to have suffered an injury which kept him out of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). At three, Ready’s Image returned from a seven month absence in the 6½ furlong Anticipating Stakes. Facing an in-form field of talented New York sprinters, Ready’s Image succeeded in giving weight all-round.
Like Benicio and Sebring, Ready’s Image owns a pedigree that reinforces More Than Ready’s speed and precocity. He is out of a three-parts-sister to the dam of Came Home, winner of the Hopeful Stakes (G1) at two, and Pacific Classic (G1) and Santa Anita Derby (G1) at three. His granddam is a three-parts-sister to the dam of Marylebone, winner of the Matron Stakes (G1) at two, and this is also the female line of In Reality, and Indian Charlie.
Of course, there are a lot of potential similaraties in the way that this trio might work. However, as we’ve mentioned Benicio is out of a mare by Danehill, and Sebring out of a mare by that horse’s son, Flying Spur. This doesn’t necessarily completely rule out Danehill line mares for either, even Benicio – we’ve seen plenty of good runners where the broodmare sire of the sire is in the male line of the dam – but it’s obviously something that will need to be handled with consideration. In this vein, both might particulary like the Danehill/Star Kingdom cross through such as Danzero, Redoute’s Choice and Catbird (a three-quarters relative to the dam of Benicio). Ready’s Image – who is free on Northern Dancer on the distaff side – promises to be particularly intriguing with Danehill. His second dam is by Wavering Monarch, who is by Majestic Light (a genetic relative to His Majesty, and a successful combination for that horse) out of a Buckpasser mare, while Danehill’s dam is by His Majestic out of a Buckpasser mare. Of course all three are free to work with other strains of Danzig, and More Than Ready also has graded winners out of mares by Langfuhr, Pine Bluff, and Polish Numbers. Anabaa, Chief’s Crown/Grand Lodge, Belong to Me, and Green Desert (sire of Cape Cross, Invincible Spirit and Volksraad) are other candidates
There are several other branches of Northern Dancer that appeal for this trio. These would include Sadler’s Wells (whose grandson, Blevic, is broodmare sire of Phelan Ready), Storm Bird (including Storm Cat and Bluebird), Nijinsky II (including Royal Academy), Alzao, Last Tycoon (broodmare sire of a More Than Ready stakes winner), Palace Music, Dehere, and Night Shift and Encosta de Lago (both particularly interesting with Sebring, as they are from the family of his broodmare sire, Flying Spur).
More Than Ready has a strong record with a wide range of Mr. Prospector line mares. Australian sources that might prove particularly interesting are Miswaki (including Umatilla), and Seeking the Gold (via Secret Savings and Lujain) – who are both three-quarters related to More Than Ready’s broodmare sire Woodman – Thunder Gulch, Elusive Quality (who might prove a particularly good foil for Ready’s Image), Street Cry (good with all three, but particularly interesting with the Danehill in Benicio and Sebring), Unbridled’s Song (broodmare sire of this year’s More Than Ready graded scorer Colour), Defensive Play, Bellotto and Conquistarose (broodmare sire of More Than Ready’s grade one winner Carry On Cutie).
More Than Ready’s grandsire, Halo, is a good combination for Sir Ivor (who is bred on similar lines to Halo). There is a graded winner by More Than Ready out of a Kaapstad (by Sir Tristram) mare, and Marauding and Zabeel would be two other good Sir Tristram sources. Oddly enough, More Than Ready also has two stakes winners out of mares descending from Turn-to through his own Halo sire line, one out of a mare by Sunday Silence (graded winner More Joyous) and one out of a mare by Don’t Say Halo.
More Than Ready also has also demonstrated an affinity for several strains that have in recent times become identified as domestic Australian ones. From the Star Kingdom he has stakes winners out of mares by Canny Lad (by Bletchingly), Marscay (sire of the second dam of Benicio) and Full and By (by Zephyr Bay). Sebring’s second dam also comes from this line, as she is by Luskin Star (by Kaoru Star). The Halo/Better Boy cross has a good strike rate, including a stakes winner by More Than Ready out of a mare by Centro (by Better Boy’s son, Century), and other sources of this line include Centaine, Rubiton and Euclase. Sebring might particularly like this strain, as his third dam, the good stakes winner Willowy, is a three-quarters relative to Century. Sebring also has potential with mares by Rory’s Jester, which would bring together the three-parts-brother and sister Far Vista and Baguette. More Than Ready also has the promising 2009 two-year-old Common Interest out of a mare by Snippets, a strain that should suit the Buckpasser double that is present in Benicio, Sebring and Ready’s Image.
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