More Than Ready - Sire of VRC Derby winner

[Flight]

If anyone had predicated six months ago that More Than Ready would sire the winner of the 2500m (about 12.5 furlongs) VRC Derby this Spring I'm sure more than a few people would have had a quiet chuckle and thought no way.

The Derby was run and won on Saturday by his son, Benicio, out of Mannington who was a quality sprinting mare. His second dam was a Golden Slipper winner and it is only when you get to this third dam that you find any progeny with staying aptitude.

I understand that this colt was purchased as a potential Golden Slipper runner ie a 2 year old 1200m type which is understandable given his immediate female family.

I'm now curious as to whether any of his NH progeny as proving just as versatile on the track.

[ZiaLand]

One of my broodmares is by Southern Halo, so this is great news to me!

More Than Ready was a major Kentucky Derby contender (although he ended up finishing 4th) and his conduit profile is pretty well divided between speed and stamina, so his progeny getting some distance seems logical.

Thanks for the good news, Flight.

Laurie

[KAL]

More Than Ready had magnificient speed and could carry it fairly far. His 4th in the Derby was an example of this. Additionally, he is the type who could have been expected to sire both quality turf and dirt runners (I cannot wait to see how they perform on the polytrack... they should love it).

As for winning at 2500m... I find it astonishing, especially considering the mare was sprint oriented as well. I guess it proves his versatility goes beyond surface. Although, I am somewhat interested in how the race was run. I have seen speed oriented types do well in marathon events when the pace is extremely slow and basically the race turns into an all out 3f sprint.

There has been so much talk on this board lauding the success of one young sire or another, yet it seems More Than Ready continually gets left out. Equally surprising are his sales numbers, they are good, but not what one would expect from so much success for a young stallion. Quite simply, I don't think there is another young stallion standing for under $75,000 that is his equal. Can you imagine if he were a "Storm Cat" or "Mr. P" line stallion?

This last question brings up another point... Isn't it becoming somewhat apparent that other lines, especially the Halo's (the departed Saint Ballado, Devil His Due, and, now, More Than Ready) or maybe simply the Hail To Reason line (thus, you can add the Kris S. sons) is beginning to make great advances as being the "next" big stallion lines to emerge?

[Coquinerie]

You make some interesting points and I, for one, am in agreeance with you. I think the Hail to Reason line is one of the better sire lines and one I purposely look for on the Distaff side especially. Im not sure its resurging as much as it just lost favor and is now starting to regain some of its favor. I love to see Halo on the sire's side and Kris S on the dam side. Both extremely underrated stallions of supreme merit from a sireline that is ALWAYS dependable in providing top class in a runner and/or producer.

[HJ]

Made the following observations on another site -

Lee Freedman seems to have figured out early in the peace that Benicio was a staying talent. Seems strange that the perception out there is that the stock of More than Ready should be sprinters. With his oldest crop now only three years old there is enough evidence to suggest that they should mature into horses capable of getting a middle distance. He already has three stakes winners in the USA beyond a mile, including Ready For Roses who has twice won at stakes level over 10 furlongs. More Than Ready whilst raced mainly over shorter distances showed that he was quite capable of getting a middle distance when he finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby. His jockey John Velasquez made the following comments post race "I had a good trip, and right near the eighth pole I made the lead. I thought I was going to win it. Then the winner went by me and I knew I couldn't catch him.", "They just got me for third. I'm so proud of him. He ran his heart out."

Southern Halo the sire of More Than Ready also showed top class ability at a middle distance, he ran second in the Super Derby Invitational (GR1) and Swaps Stakes (GR1) over 10 furlongs. Southern Halo is best known as a sire of brilliant speed horses and was eight time champion sire in Argentina before being relocated to Japan. He also sired champions that excelled over the classic distances including Miss Linda (Champion 3- year-old filly, Argentine Oaks- G1). Southern Halo like sire sensation and the epitome of the classic horse Sunday Silence is a son of Halo.

Mannington who only raced 9 times was only once tried beyond a sprint distance in her last start over 1600m. Danehill is not a one dimensional sire and has had many progeny excell over longer distances. Her dam sire Marscay was capable of siring Derby winners (Great Command) and Oaks winners (Triscay and Circles of Gold) when matched with mares with staying pedigrees. There is an abundance of staying influences in the family and pedigree of Mannington including Sir Tristram. Elvstroem by Danehill out of Circles of Gold (Marscay) could sprint and stay, wins include Victoria Derby and Caufield Cup.

[monicabee]

Isn't it becoming somewhat apparent that other lines, especially the Halo's (the departed Saint Ballado, Devil His Due, and, now, More Than Ready) or maybe simply the Hail To Reason line (thus, you can add the Kris S. sons) is beginning to make great advances as being the "next" big stallion lines to emerge?

KAL, I was having exactly this thought last week when the TVG guys (pre-Breeders Cup) were discounting Saint Ballado as an important sire. When I started adding them up, I realized many of the stallions I like, like Devil his Due, are from this sireline. I didn't do any research to check out if there is statistical evidence of this, though.

More Than Ready, I thought, made his mark producing precocity. Therefore the distances his babies have won at will necessarily be short, won't they, and it's not really fair to call them sprints? He has been mentioned to me as a value stallion, if not quite top-drawer.

[ZiaLand]

This last question brings up another point... Isn't it becoming somewhat apparent that other lines, especially the Halo's (the departed Saint Ballado, Devil His Due, and, now, More Than Ready) or maybe simply the Hail To Reason line (thus, you can add the Kris S. sons) is beginning to make great advances as being the "next" big stallion lines to emerge?

Same thought here, too. The Halo line seems to be producing some outstanding individuals and producers. Seems this is a good line to look for if you want to find a great value and a higher probability of producing a superior runner, if not a commercial sales topper.

Personally, as a breeder, I'd rather sell a yearling at a good price that goes on to greatly outrun his top bid, than to produce a high dollar disaster. But maybe that's just me.

Laurie