Vinery Stud's flagship stallion More Than Ready (USA) sired his 20th
Coming off a luckless second in Del Mar's Grade 1I Bing Crosby Stakes, Roy H was kept out of trouble this time by Kent Desormeaux sweeping three deep around the home turn to defeat Mr. Hinx (Ministers Wild Cat) by a length with American Anthem (Bodemeister) two and a quarter length back in third.
"I've been looking forward to this day for some time," Desormeaux told Blood-Horse.
"He's been a special horse since the day I got to touch him. It was quite a handy ride today. He's fast. He probably broke a half a length behind the leaders and I had him in absolute reserve all the way."
"This was very rewarding," winning trainer Peter Miller said.
"We thought we were the best horse in the Bing Crosby. It was bad racing luck that day. I've had so many bad beats in my life and I'm just glad today wasn't another one of those."
Roy H advances his record to 5 wins, 4 seconds and 1 third from 16 starts and $534,765 in earnings.
A $115,000 Keeneland September Yearling and a $310,000 Keeneland April 2yo, Roy H is out of the multiple Grade III-winning Elusive Quality mare Elusive Diva who sold for $1.6 million at the 2006 Keeneland November sale.
More Than Ready (USA) shuttles to Vinery Stud from WinStar Farm in Kentucky where he stands at a fee of $60,000.
Six of his Group I
On his 17th tour of duty to Australia, More Than Ready stands at Vinery for a fee of $66,000.