More Than Ready (USA)
April 4, 1997 – August 26, 2022
Southern Halo (USA) x Woodman’s Girl (USA), by Woodman (USA)
Family 1-x
April 4, 1997 – August 26, 2022
Southern Halo (USA) x Woodman’s Girl (USA), by Woodman (USA)
Family 1-x
Much the best racehorse sired by the sensational Argentine-based sire Southern Halo during his time in Kentucky, More Than Ready did not truly stay even a mile but was an utterly game and determined racehorse of considerable quality, allowing him to be competitive at somewhat longer distances. At stud, he was been one of the most effective stallions to shuttle between Kentucky and Australia, becoming a champion sire of juveniles in both locations. He is proving a beneficial sire of broodmares as well.
Race record
17 starts, 7 wins, 4 seconds, 1 third, US$1,026,229
1999:
2000:
Assessments
Rated at 122 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American 2-year-old males of 1999, 4 pounds below champion Anees.
Rated at 120 pounds on the International Classification in the Sprint and Mile categories, 12 pounds below the top 3-year-old, Sinndar; 6 pounds below the top 3-year-old in the Mile category, Observatory; and 2 pounds below the top 3-year-old male in the Sprint category, Caller One.
As an individual
A handsome, lengthy, fairly correct dark bay or brown horse with an exceptionally long, powerful hip, More Than Ready had a sharp turn of foot as a racehorse. He was utterly game and determined in action. He stood 16 hands and had an excellent temperament.
As a stallion
More Than Ready was a versatile stallion with top progeny on both turf and dirt and had Grade/Group 1 winners from sprint distances up to 2400 meters (about 12 furlongs). While he was a top sire of juveniles, his runners generally trained on well.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
Per The Blood-Horse:
Per Thoroughbred Record/Thoroughbred Times:
Notable progeny
An Serafini (VEN), Benicio (AUS), Buster’s Ready (USA), Carry On Cutie (AUS), Catholic Boy (USA), Daredevil (USA), Dreamaway (AUS), Eagle Way (USA), Entisaar (AUS), Forbidden Prince (USA), Funtastic (USA), Gimmethegreenlight (AUS), More Joyous (NZ), More Than Looks (USA), More Than Sacred (AUS), More Than Words (USA), Perfect Reflection (AUS), Perfectly Ready (USA), Phelan Ready (AUS), Prized Icon (AUS), Ready to Attack (AUS), Regally Ready (USA), Room Service (USA), Roy H (USA), Rushing Fall (USA), Samaready (AUS), Say the Word (CAN), Sebring (AUS), Uni (GB), Verrazano (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Aspen Grove (IRE), Bivouac (AUS), Café Pharoah (USA), Carl Spackler (IRE), Celebrity Queen (AUS), Dandy del Barrio (ARG), Durezza (JPN), Four Wheel Drive (USA), King Colorado (AUS), Knight's Choice (AUS), Miracles of Life (AUS), Rediener (AUS), Regal Glory (USA), She Feels Pretty (USA), Structor (USA), Wellington (AUS)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, More Than Ready was bred by Woodlynn Farm. He was owned by James Scatuorchio, who bought him for US$187,000 from the 1998 Keeneland September yearling sale. He was trained by Todd Pletcher. Owned by the More Than Ready Syndicate as a stallion, he entered stud in 2001 at Vinery Kentucky and stood there through 2012, shuttling to Viner’s Australian facility. He moved to WinStar Farm for the 2013 Northern Hemisphere season, and that was his Kentucky base afterward, though he continued shuttling to Vinery Australia. More Than Ready was euthanized due to the infirmities of old age in August 2022.
Pedigree notes
More Than Ready is inbred 4x5 to the important sire Turn-to, 4x5 to the 20th-century foundation mare Almahmoud, and 5x5 to two-time American Horse of the Year Native Dancer. He is a half brother to Always Ready (by Dixieland Band), second dam of Peruvian Group 2 winner Sheriff Pete.
More Than Ready was produced from the winner Woodman’s Girl, whose multiple Grade 3-winning half sister Bail Out Becky (by Red Ransom) is the dam of listed stakes winner Ransom the Kitten, by Kitten’s Joy) and the second dam of 2010/2011 Peruvian champion 3-year-old male Fly Lexis Fly and multiple Grade 1 winner Stephanie’s Kitten. Woodman’s Girl is also a half sister to stakes winner Benelli (by Danzig Connection) and to Nascat (by Hennessy), dam of Canadian listed stakes winner Bearcatt (by Tapit).
Woodman’s Girl, in turn, is out of unraced Becky Be Good (by 1970 Everglades Stakes winner Naskra), whose stakes-placed half sister Landera (by In Reality) is the dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Cutlass Reality (by Cutlass) and the second dam of 2003 Travers Stakes (USA-G1) winner Ten Most Wanted. Produced from the First Landing mare Good Landing (a great-granddaughter of the great matriarch La Troienne), Becky Be Good is also a half sister to My Locket (by Key to the Mint), dam of 1987 Milady Handicap (USA-G1) winner Seldom Seen Sue (by Lines of Power; dam of listed stakes winner Wegotohaveharte, by Houston) and second dam of Grade 3 winner Beckon the King (by Ghazi).
Books and media
Vinery Australia produced a 2018 tribute video to More Than Ready which can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZIW33enw7g.
Fun facts
Photo credit
Portrait photo taken by Jessica Morgan at Vinery in 2010. Used by permission.
Last updated: November 5, 2024
Race record
17 starts, 7 wins, 4 seconds, 1 third, US$1,026,229
1999:
- Won Sanford Stakes (USA-G2, 6FD, Saratoga)
- Won Tremont Stakes (USA-G3, 5.5FD, Belmont; new track record 1:02.56)
- Won Flash Stakes (USA-L, 5FD, Belmont)
- Won WHAS-11 Stakes (USA-L, 5FD, Churchill Downs)
- 3rd Futurity Stakes (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)
2000:
- Won King's Bishop Stakes (USA-G1, 7FD, Saratoga)
- Won Hutcheson Stakes (USA-G2, 7FD, Gulfstream Park; dead heat with Summer Note)
- 2nd Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Keeneland)
- 2nd Vosburgh Stakes (USA-G1, 7FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Louisiana Derby (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Fair Grounds)
- 2nd Dwyer Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Belmont)
Assessments
Rated at 122 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American 2-year-old males of 1999, 4 pounds below champion Anees.
Rated at 120 pounds on the International Classification in the Sprint and Mile categories, 12 pounds below the top 3-year-old, Sinndar; 6 pounds below the top 3-year-old in the Mile category, Observatory; and 2 pounds below the top 3-year-old male in the Sprint category, Caller One.
As an individual
A handsome, lengthy, fairly correct dark bay or brown horse with an exceptionally long, powerful hip, More Than Ready had a sharp turn of foot as a racehorse. He was utterly game and determined in action. He stood 16 hands and had an excellent temperament.
As a stallion
More Than Ready was a versatile stallion with top progeny on both turf and dirt and had Grade/Group 1 winners from sprint distances up to 2400 meters (about 12 furlongs). While he was a top sire of juveniles, his runners generally trained on well.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- 8th on the American general sire list in 2010.
- Led the American juvenile sire list in 2010.
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
- 7th on the American general sire list in 2010; 8th in 2018.
- Led the American juvenile sire list in 2010.
- 2nd on the Australian general sire list in 2007/08; 4th in 2011/12; 5th in 2008/09 and 2010/11; 7th in 2009/10; 8th in 2012/13.
- 3rd on the Australian broodmare sire list in 2020/21; 5th in 2018/19, 2019/20, and 2021/22; 8th in 2017/18 and 2023/24; 10th in 2016/17.
- Led the Australian juvenile sire list in 2007/08 and 2008/09.
Per The Blood-Horse:
- 6th on the American general sire list in 2010 and 2011; 8th in 2018.
- Led the American juvenile sire list in 2010.
Per Thoroughbred Record/Thoroughbred Times:
- 3rd on the American general sire list in 2010; 9th in 2009.
- Led the American juvenile sire list in 2010.
- Led the Australian juvenile sire list in 2007/2008.
Notable progeny
An Serafini (VEN), Benicio (AUS), Buster’s Ready (USA), Carry On Cutie (AUS), Catholic Boy (USA), Daredevil (USA), Dreamaway (AUS), Eagle Way (USA), Entisaar (AUS), Forbidden Prince (USA), Funtastic (USA), Gimmethegreenlight (AUS), More Joyous (NZ), More Than Looks (USA), More Than Sacred (AUS), More Than Words (USA), Perfect Reflection (AUS), Perfectly Ready (USA), Phelan Ready (AUS), Prized Icon (AUS), Ready to Attack (AUS), Regally Ready (USA), Room Service (USA), Roy H (USA), Rushing Fall (USA), Samaready (AUS), Say the Word (CAN), Sebring (AUS), Uni (GB), Verrazano (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Aspen Grove (IRE), Bivouac (AUS), Café Pharoah (USA), Carl Spackler (IRE), Celebrity Queen (AUS), Dandy del Barrio (ARG), Durezza (JPN), Four Wheel Drive (USA), King Colorado (AUS), Knight's Choice (AUS), Miracles of Life (AUS), Rediener (AUS), Regal Glory (USA), She Feels Pretty (USA), Structor (USA), Wellington (AUS)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, More Than Ready was bred by Woodlynn Farm. He was owned by James Scatuorchio, who bought him for US$187,000 from the 1998 Keeneland September yearling sale. He was trained by Todd Pletcher. Owned by the More Than Ready Syndicate as a stallion, he entered stud in 2001 at Vinery Kentucky and stood there through 2012, shuttling to Viner’s Australian facility. He moved to WinStar Farm for the 2013 Northern Hemisphere season, and that was his Kentucky base afterward, though he continued shuttling to Vinery Australia. More Than Ready was euthanized due to the infirmities of old age in August 2022.
Pedigree notes
More Than Ready is inbred 4x5 to the important sire Turn-to, 4x5 to the 20th-century foundation mare Almahmoud, and 5x5 to two-time American Horse of the Year Native Dancer. He is a half brother to Always Ready (by Dixieland Band), second dam of Peruvian Group 2 winner Sheriff Pete.
More Than Ready was produced from the winner Woodman’s Girl, whose multiple Grade 3-winning half sister Bail Out Becky (by Red Ransom) is the dam of listed stakes winner Ransom the Kitten, by Kitten’s Joy) and the second dam of 2010/2011 Peruvian champion 3-year-old male Fly Lexis Fly and multiple Grade 1 winner Stephanie’s Kitten. Woodman’s Girl is also a half sister to stakes winner Benelli (by Danzig Connection) and to Nascat (by Hennessy), dam of Canadian listed stakes winner Bearcatt (by Tapit).
Woodman’s Girl, in turn, is out of unraced Becky Be Good (by 1970 Everglades Stakes winner Naskra), whose stakes-placed half sister Landera (by In Reality) is the dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Cutlass Reality (by Cutlass) and the second dam of 2003 Travers Stakes (USA-G1) winner Ten Most Wanted. Produced from the First Landing mare Good Landing (a great-granddaughter of the great matriarch La Troienne), Becky Be Good is also a half sister to My Locket (by Key to the Mint), dam of 1987 Milady Handicap (USA-G1) winner Seldom Seen Sue (by Lines of Power; dam of listed stakes winner Wegotohaveharte, by Houston) and second dam of Grade 3 winner Beckon the King (by Ghazi).
Books and media
Vinery Australia produced a 2018 tribute video to More Than Ready which can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZIW33enw7g.
Fun facts
- More Than Ready is the fourth stallion to have reached the milestone of 200 stakes winners, following Danehill, Sadler’s Wells, and Galileo, and is the leading sire of winners in Thoroughbred history. He is also the leading North American-based sire of stakes winners.
Photo credit
Portrait photo taken by Jessica Morgan at Vinery in 2010. Used by permission.
Last updated: November 5, 2024