Co-trainer Maddy Sears has confirmed that, all things being well, next Saturday (September 3) will see the return to race action of Steady Ready, one of Queensland’s most exciting young horses.
The now three-year-old colt was quick to capture the public’s imagination when he scored a runaway debut win in a QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap over 1050m at Doomben on March 26, passing the post an arrogant 5.75 lengths ahead of his nearest rival.
That, coming on the back of a 13.30 lengths trial win, got tongues wagging and, although Steady Ready did taste defeat in his second start, when stepping straight up into Listed company in the Dalrello Stakes, the fact that he was beaten (into second place) there by the much more experienced and more than useful Exo Lady, who would go on the finish second in the Group 2 Champagne Classic next time out, meant that the Tony and Maddysen Sears trained runner went to the paddock with his already burgeoning reputation intact.
When he faces the starter on September 3, Steady Ready would have been away from race action for a full four months, but, according to Maddy Sears, those months have been well spent in terms of adding substance to Steady Ready’s progress as a racehorse.
“The plan is to race him next Saturday,” said Maddy Sears. “He’s had two really good jump-outs. The first one he won by … I don’t know … maybe thirteen, fourteen lengths.
“The second one … it was an easy one in which he beat a horse that has won something like eight races by about six lengths. It was just that easy for him again.
“I think he is an even better horse this time,” continued Sears. “He doesn’t look like such a baby anymore.
“When he went out for a spell, he was about fifteen hands and he has come back fifteen three-and-a-half, so he has turned into a pretty decent sized horse.
“He hasn’t lost anything. That’s for sure.
“It’s particularly encouraging going from two years old to three. Sometimes they just don’t carry it on, but he has definitely come on.
“He is going to the race there (next Saturday) … Ryan Maloney will ride him.
“We haven’t decided on his second race yet. He’ll have that, then we’ll get him back to the paddock and get him ready for the Magic Millions.”