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.

Advertisement

"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...
Better Than Ready Hits 21
Lyndhurst Stud’s long-time front-runner Better Than Ready continues to repel the formidable challenges of Deep Field and Rubick for number of individual winners by a first season sire after Golly Hut broke his maiden at the Sunshine Coast on Wednesday to become winner number 21.
Perth Cup Contender for Pride of Dubai
A two time stakes-winner that was second in last year’s Group II WATC Derby, five year-old Pride of Dubai gelding Buckets Ridge was back in top form at Ascot on Saturday when winning the $125,000 Listed WATC GA Towton Cup (2200m).
Invader’s Foreign Press Wins Listed Mode Plate
Leading into Saturday’s $160,000 Listed BRC Mode Plate (1200m) at Doomben, Tony Gollan’s Invader filly had Foreign Press had been a model of consistency, and she displayed that once again on race day, securing her first black type victory in a close finish.
New G1 Winner for Maurice - Cosmic Crusader Wins G1 Northerly
It was yet another big win for Peters Investments in a Perth major!
G1 Plans for Invincible Sprinter
A five year-old son of I Am Invincible, Caballus is a very much a sprinter on the rise and turned in a blistering performance at Doomben on Saturday to go within a whisker of the course record when blasting his rivals to win the Group III BRC George Moore Stakes (1200m).
Sires With Winners - Saturday December 6
Here is the full list of 108 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Consecutive Ballarat Cup Wins For Berkeley Square
While it has been 12 months between drinks so to speak for Dan O’Sullivan’s Berkeley Square with his last race victory coming in this very same race last year, Saturday’s victory in the $500,000 Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) took the earnings of the 6yo Territories (IRE) gelding past the $2m mark.
$2.2million Zoustar Filly Goes Two from Two
The highest priced yearling by champion sire Zoustar sold in 2024 when fetching $2.2million at Inglis Easter, Plaintiff was stepping out at Rosehill on Sunday for her second race start and kept her record perfect.
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.
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.