THE KING OF THE MOUNTAIN COUNTDOWN. STEADY READY 3-2 ... WILL IT BE 1 NEXT YEAR?

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, January 2, 2024

The second running of the King Of The Mountain (KOTM) at Toowoomba on New Year’s Day once again presented the Tony and Maddysen Sears trained Steady Ready with an opportunity to showcase his well above average talent and to nudge his prize-money earnings closer towards the $500 000 mark, now being just $11 600 shy of that milestone.

The son of Better Than Ready didn’t win the race but, under an astute ride from Michael Rodd after an unsteady start, he came through to challenge late, eventually just finishing within 0.30 lengths of reeling in the short-priced favourite Rothfire to claim second spot.

“I thought he was very brave in defeat,” said co-trainer Maddy Sears. “We didn’t want to give Rothfire as much of a head-start as we did, but he slipped quite badly coming out of the gates and that put him in a position where he didn’t want to be.

“If he was better placed early, I believe it would have been a very close finish. I can’t say he would have beaten Rothfire, because Rothfire doesn’t lay down in a finish, but, as I said, we certainly gave him far more of a head-start than we wanted to.

“He hit the line so well. That was probably the best run of his career, I reckon.”

That result meant Steady Ready went one place better than last year when he finished third to stable companion Yellow Brick, a pleasing form trajectory for the relatively lightly raced four-year-old as it can be expected that he will improve further as he takes his career forward.

3 - 2 – 1 ... that would be a nice KOTM countdown if Steady Ready can go one better again next year.

But that will be a story for another time.

Right now, a more immediate assignment is the main focus for Steady Ready who will head for a rematch with Rothfire at the Gold Coast on January 13 ... Magic Millions Day ... where he will lineup in the $1 million QTIS Open Handicap over 1300m, which will be the first time Steady Ready steps out beyond 1200m.

With Steady Ready set to carry 52kg in that race, Jamie Kah has been booked for the ride.

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