Readiness continued his march through the grades when he scored a strong win in the Become a Member Now Handicap (1550m) at Randwick on Wednesday.
A winner of his previous start at Rosehill, Readiness was sent out the favourite and despite getting well back in the field, he was able to finish over the top of his rivals to win stylishly.
Winning trainer Gwenda Markwell is delighted with the progression of the four-year-old More Than Ready gelding – now the winner of five of his 11 starts.
“It was a good effort and a top ride from Corey (Brown),” Markwell said. “That’s Corey he outsmarts them.”
“He’s the best,” she added.
Brown said the race went pretty much to plan, although there was a stage in the race when he got a little anxious.
“I was happy to come back (off the speed),” Brown said. “The tempo was really solid especially from the mile.”
“I was very concerned on straightening. But he came on in the straight nicely and got the job done.”
And Brown said the best thing about Readiness is that he can only keep on improving into the future.
“I just told the connections that he’s still not there,” Brown noted. “He’s still learning and he’s still a bit of a baby.”
“There’s a bit left in him.”
Readiness, by star Vinery Stud sire More Than Ready, is one of two multiple winners from his dam Scale the Heights.
A four time winning daughter of Snaadee, Scale the Heights is one of four good winners produced by the stakes performed Laudham Mist.
Readiness was purchased by senior part owner Fred Alam for $75,000 from the draft of Southern Cross Breeders at the 2007 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale (Session 5).
Later in the afternoon St Augustine took the first step on what connections are hoping is a stakes winning preparation when he cruised to victory.
A son of former outstanding international sire Anabaa, St Augustine sat off the speed before racing up the leader and then clearing away to win by a widening four and a half lengths.
Winning trainer John O’Shea said the colt has always shown exceptional ability and he was glad he was able to
“The two times he’s been beaten he’s drawn soft and was annoyed the whole way,” O’Shea said.
“He was comfortable today and he showed he had a good turn of foot,” he added.
Bigger and better things are in store for the lightly raced performer.
“He’s a lovely little colt and he’s always shown he had some nice ability.”
“If he can win a nice listed race through the autumn it would be good,” O’Shea summed up.
Winning rider Corey Brown has no doubt that St Augustine is destined for better wins.
“It was a nice performance,” Brown commented. “I think you saw the real horse here today.”
“Today he was much more settled and I think he’s a better chase horse than a leader.”
The first named foal for the Sydney winning and Hawkesbury Guineas fourth placegetter Primal Motion, St Augustine hails from the family of champion sire Zabeel.
St Augustine was purchased by leading Sydney bloodstock agent Vin Cox for $270,000 from the draft of Widden Stud at the 2008 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Meanwhile, Eight Thorns broke through for a deserved win earlier in the afternoon at Randwick for the Gerald Ryan stable.
The grey gelding, who’d six times city placed in his 11 previous runs, scored a deserved metro success when he got to the line first.
A $100,000 purchase for Darby Bloodstock from the draft of Widden Stud at the 2008 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Eight Thorns is a son of star sire and former champion racehorse Lonhro.
