News

Better Than Ready Wins Keith Noud Handicap

23rd Nov 2013

AAP Megaform - Stephen Rodgers - Saturday 23 November, 2013

Jockey Ric McMahon has given Better Than Ready his seal of approval to chase Group One success in the autumn after his courageous win in the Keith Noud Handicap at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Better Than Ready, the $2.35 favourite, shouldered topweight of 60.5kg to win by a head from Benny's Buttons ($14) with Morning Captain ($8.50) a long neck away third.

McMahon has been aboard Better Than Ready in all of his eight wins and is hoping to retain the ride when trainer Kelly Schweida takes him to Melbourne in the autumn for the Group One Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield.

"In Melbourne he'll be down in the weights so that will give him the chance to show his good turn of foot and he'll be very competitive," he said.

"I love him, he's my favourite horse by far. I've won eight races on him and he goes really well for me."

McMahon had Better Than Ready travelling comfortably in fourth spot before bringing the four-year-old with a well-timed finish in the straight.

"On paper it looked average speed and they went out even slower than I thought they would," McMahon said.

"We were always going to be positive out of the gates even though he had an awkward barrier but, as it turned out, everything worked out in our favour."

Schweida won't be tempted to extend Better Than Ready's campaign through the summer months.

"The main purpose of giving him these two runs this prep was to stop him getting too fat before the autumn," he said.

"Because he's a stallion he gets too fat too quickly but he's done his job for us now so he'll go for a break now."

While Better Than Ready raced close to the speed, Schweida believes he'll be more effective ridden further back in a race.

"It's probably not the best way to ride him having him up close and it was his class that got him home today," he said.

Michael Cahill praised the courage of Benny's Buttons to stretch Better Than Ready in the final stages.

"I felt he was starting to fight back towards the finish and it was no disgrace to be beaten by the winner who's a very good horse," Cahill said.

Better Than Ready (More Than Ready (USA) x Sally's World) was purchased by trainer Kelly Schweida for $140,000 from the Newgate Farm draft at the 2011 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling