Ready To Rush's Highway win puts her in The Kosciuszko picture
A mare known for overcoming a significant catalogue of injuries, Ready To Rush, achieved a notable victory in the TAB Highway (1000m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Trainer Matthew Dale has persisted with Ready To Rush through her various ailments, and the mare is now beginning to fulfill her considerable potential.
"She's had three knee surgeries and there was some talk if we could even get her back,'' Dale commented. "But full credit to the ownership group and Kurrinda Bloodstock who have been super patient."
Dale elaborated on his training approach, saying, "I train her solely off my farm just outside of Goulburn so that is why she presented a little 'wintery' today. It's a long way from Cootamundra and Gundagai to these Highways but she has taken that next step, it was great to see.''
Ridden effectively by Rachel King, Ready To Rush ($11) defeated Sneaky Pee Cee ($6.50) by almost a length, with Magic Speed ($81) finishing a close third. Punters exploring online bookmakers would have noted the mare's upset victory at double-figure odds.
The favourite, Lady Olenna ($4.40), was positioned towards the back of the field but finished strongly, narrowing the margin to just over a length.
King expressed her admiration for the mare's demeanor, stating, "We had to duck and weave and go inside a horse and she was like 'are you sure' but the more I asked her the more she kept finding.''
Ready To Rush has now won three of her four starts, adding a second place to her record. This performance makes her a contender for the lucrative $2 million The Kosciuszko.
Dale confessed, "I didn't have her in my Kosciuszko plans before today. But winner's win and she is gaining in confidence all the time.''
He further detailed his training regimen, explaining that Ready To Rush is exercised on a sand track at his Goulburn property to aid in her soundness. "She had a jump out with two of my better mares So You Pence and Rose Aye the other day and was half a length off them. So You Pence then came out and won a Saturday race and she was half a length off her so that gave us a bit of confidence going into today."
The racing odds for The Kosciuszko might see a shift with Ready To Rush's strong showing, making her an interesting proposition on betting sites.
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