AMERICAN SHUTTLE STALLION READY TO TAKE ON AUSTRALIA - AND BLACK CAVIAR'S BREEDER EYES OFF DERBY WITH PHILIPPI

Lincoln Farm shuttler Ready’s Image has jumped the blocks with his first runners in the United States and the signs are just as positive in Australia.

Ready’s Image (More Than Ready) sired his fourth Kentucky-bred winner on Wednesday evening when Ready scored second up over 1100m at Remington Park. It follows the 12 length victory by his filly Tourliani last week.

Ready (2c Ready’s Image - Harderthanpride by Hunting Hard) was always well-placed before jockey Jamie Theriot launched him with a determined drive in the straight to score by over a length.

Raced by owner-breeder Randy Patterson, Ready is bred to progress when going further than sharp sprints. His dam won over 1600m and her half-brother Western Pride (Way West) was successful up to 1800m in a Group 2 at Santa Anita.

The first Australian Ready’s Image yearlings were popular earlier this year and BC3 Thoroughbreds snapped up two of his colts at the Inglis Classic Sale.

The Ready’s Image – Topsinga (Danasinga) colt cost $100,000 and he looked an early-comer during a BC3 breeze-up earlier this month. “He should be named next week,” BC3 general manager Iain Nelson said. “Current plans are to trial him at Cranbourne on October 8 before targeting a race over the spring carnival.”

The Ready’s Image - Bye Bye Tata (Zabeel) colt was a $60,000 buy at the Classic Sale. He has been named Present Glow and trainer Kevin Newby has pencilled in the Cranbourne trials on Monday, September 24 for his next hit-out.

“Present Glow is more forward than the Topsinga colt and we hand-timed him at 33.60s for 600 metres last week,” Nelson revealed. “All going well, he should be ready for the Maribyrnong Trial at Flemington on October 6.”

Shares are still available in both colts and Iain Nelson can be contacted on (03) 5291 8502 or 0409 043 871.

The positive reports have helped build the latest book being covered by Ready’s Image at Lincoln Farm. He is a son of Champion 2YO sire More Than Ready and followed in his hoof-prints winning the G3 Tremont Stakes at Belmont and G2 Sanford Stakes at Saratoga.

Lincoln Farm owner Nick Posa is standing Ready’s Image for a $5,500 (inc gst) service fee. Broodmare owners can call Posa for further details on 0417 903 578.

Swettenham Stud sire Host (Chi) produced a frontline candidate for the spring classics when Philippi flew home to win the Sportingbet Hcp (1500m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Trainer Mick Kent is already talking up a start for Philippi in the G1 Victoria Derby on November 3. "He's bred to run 2000 metres but I think he will get to the Derby distance," Kent claimed. "He's got the right temperament and is nice and relaxed."

Philippi (3c Host – Soorena by Encosta De Lago) made it two-from-two after winning on debut at Mornington last month. “He’s still a bit raw,” Kent admitted. “But he’s got a lovely action and is really progressing this time in.”

Kent has nominated Philippi for the G1 Caulfield Guineas but indicated his next start on the Victoria Derby trail will be in the Listed UCI Stakes (1800m) at Flemington on October 6.

Philippi is raced by Rick Jamieson who also bred world-champion Black Caviar at Gilgai Farm in Nagambie. His Host colt is from a winning half-sister to sprinter-miler Philda (Secret Savings) who won 12 races in Melbourne up to 1600m.

Jamieson sold Black Caviar through Swettenham’s draft at the 2008 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale and he’s been very keen on Philippi from the time he was a foal. “Rick reckons Host will develop into a very successful stallion,” Swettenham owner Adam Sangster said. “And Soorena is due to foal to him again any day now.”

Host (Chi) is a Group 1 winning son of champion sire Hussonet and Jamieson believes he will nick particularly well with mares by Sir Tristram, Encosta de Lago and Red Ransom.

Besides Philippi, Host has also sired promising winners Flying Hostess and Hosting in recent weeks and that has triggered renewed interest from breeders. “We are just about to close off his $5,000 (inc gst) early-bird service fee,” Sangster said. “It will then rise back to $7,500 (inc gst).”

Broodmare owners can contact Sangster for further details on 0418 543 633 or nominations manager Chris Belli on 0417 514 552.