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Vale More Than Ready

Mark Smith - Friday August 26

Sad news coming out of Kentucky, More Than Ready (USA) was euthanised at WinStar Farm on August 26 due to cumulative effects of old age.

The 25yo son of Southern Halo was the rarest of all stallions, equally successful in both hemispheres.

A generation of fans made the trek to Vinery to see More Than Ready (image Mark Smith)

More Than Ready (USA) shuttled to Vinery Stud for 19 consecutive seasons from 2001-19. He hit his stride immediately with Group 1 AJC Champagne Stakes winner Carry on Cutie and Group 1 VRC Derby hero Benicio coming from his first crop. He also sired consecutive winners of the Golden Slipper with Sebring and Phelan Ready.

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Sebring proved a top-class stallion, as has Lyndhurst Stud Farm's prolific Better Than Ready.

Kooringal Stud's Group 1 ATC Champagne Stakes and VRC Derby winner Prized Icon has his first runners this season.

"More Than Ready was an amazing horse who touched everyone he came in contact with," said Elliott Walden, president, CEO, and racing manager of WinStar Farm.

"He may not have been the biggest horse in the barn, but he more than made up for it in class, balance, and character. His expressions said it all. We will greatly miss him at the farm."

More Than Ready (USA) (image Mark Smith)

He has sired a world-record 2118 winners to date, and his total of 216 black-type stakes winners worldwide ranks him behind only Galileo, Danehill and Sadler's Wells.

The most successful performer for More Than Ready (USA) was John Singleton's wonderful mare More Joyous who won eight at the highest level, two more than the Champion Turf Female in USA in 2020-11, Rushing Fall.  

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