Kentucky stallions: Stalwart More Than Ready continues to turn out top-level quality

In late December, More Than Ready made his flight from Vinery in Australia to Kentucky for the final time. More Than Ready, who officially turned 22 with the turn of the calendar, has concluded his days of shuttling to a continent where he was phenomenally successful and beloved, represented by champions More Joyous, Phelan Ready, Sebring, Samaready, and Entisaar.

However, More Than Ready is now settling down for the twilight of his career in a country where he has built a reputation for success and versatility, as evidenced by the WinStar Farm resident’s performers in 2018. The stallion’s son Roy H scored a repeat victory in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint; Catholic Boy was a dual-surface Grade 1 winner at classic distances; and the stallion also was represented by turf Grade 1 winners Funtastic, Uni, and Rushing Fall. Not only did More Than Ready tie with Quality Road for the most Grade 1 winners by a Kentucky sire, his quality also is borne out by the Beyer Sire Performance Standings. He tied with fellow WinStar sire Speightstown and Gainesway’s Tapit for the most individuals to earn triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures throughout the season, with six.

Last year’s sprint champion, Roy H posted a Beyer of 111 for his 3 1/4-length repeat victory in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs. That was the same figure he earned for his one-length victory in the 2017 Sprint at Del Mar. Roy H is again a divisional Eclipse finalist. Belmont Derby and Travers Stakes winner Catholic Boy (3-year-old male) and Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup winner Rushing Fall (3-year-old female) also received finalist nods for the awards, to be presented Jan. 24.

More Than Ready was a Grade 1 winner on dirt and passed that ability on to his progeny, as evidenced by the likes of Roy H and Catholic Boy. However, the son of Southern Halo also has been able to sire turf runners. In addition to Rushing Fall, who won the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, his other standouts on that surface include 2010 Juvenile Turf winner Pluck, 2010 Juvenile Fillies Turf winner More Than Real, and 2011 Turf Sprint winner Regally Ready.

:: BEYER SIRE PERFORMANCE STANDINGS: View complete charts ::