STEADY READY BACK TO HIS BEST

By Graham Potter | Saturday, October 14, 2023

It was back to the good times for Steady Ready when the four-year-old entire claimed his third career victory in a Class 3 Plate over 1000m at Eagle Farm on October 14.

The Tony and Maddysen Sears trained son of Better Than Ready had hit the ground running in no uncertain terms when he blazed his way onto the racing scene back in March 2022 when he attracted strong attention with a 13.30 length romp in a trial win and then backed that up with an equally as solid debut performance in which he triumphed by 5.75 lengths.

In the seven starts subsequent to his debut win, Steady Ready recorded a runner-up finish in the Listed Dalrello over 1000m and a third place result in the Listed Gold Edition over 1200m … as well as another win in a 900m dash at the Gold Coast, all of which emphasized the range of his above average ability.

When he came into the Eagle Farm assignment on October 14, Steady Ready was second-up. He had resumed at Toowoomba after an eight-month layoff with a close-up third place finish and he was expected to show the benefit of that run over what is arguably his best trip … the 1000m distance.

Angela Jones, who was in the saddle in Steady Ready’s previous win at the Gold Coast, was handed the reins again here, and she jumped the Sears trained, heavily backed $1.75 favourite smartly from the number one barrier and she then positioned Steady Ready in a close-up, second place, tracking the speedy $18 chance Liquor at a lively gallop to the home turn.

On straightening, Jones railed Steady Ready up along the inside of Liquor and, although the latter still held a narrow advantage early in the home straight, Steady Ready continued to apply pressure on rival as these runners turned the race into a two-way battle for much of the run home.

For a while there, with Angela Jones and Cejay Graham both hard at work on their respective mounts, neither runner would give an inch, but then, inside the last 120m, Steady Ready asserted his authority late to edge away to a clearcut 0.78 length victory.

Steady Ready was once again in a winning mood, and we all know how good he can be when he is ‘on song.’

Long may he play that tune!

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