Saturday, 20 October 2012:
A 1200m Randwick record by Better Than Ready in the Listed Brian Crowley Stakes has ignited a Group One ambition for the Queensland sprinter.
The three-year-old scorched over the track in 1:08.10 to take .22s off Northern Meteor's standard set in the same race four years ago.
Trainer Kelly Schweida wasn't getting too carried away given the strong tail wind down the straight but said Better Than Ready was potentially the best horse he had trained.
"The
Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington is there in the back our minds," Schweida said.
"But he definitely got assistance from the tail wind.
"He has always shown a lot and I think he could be the best I have trained.
"I would have been more than happy if he could come here and run in the first three.
"The trip was a learning curve looking to the future."
Ric McMahon brought Better Than Ready ($5) out of the pack to chase the leaders and he responded to sizzle home and win by a neck over Jolie Bay ($5.50) with a length to Brave Soul ($10).
The jockey said Better Than Ready had always impressed him, none more so than on Saturday.
"He delivered today," he said.
"They rolled along at a good clip too. I got a nice run up, but I see they've run really good time so he's done a good job.
"He's got a really good turn of foot. That's his biggest asset. He can sprint off a 20 cent piece."
Schweida said the Brisbane's premier sprint, the Stradbroke Handicap, was the race he had in his mind for Better Than Ready.
"It's a race that has a good record for three-year-olds and it's a race I've always thought would suit him," he said.
"I haven't brought many horses to Sydney but this is my first winner so I'm pretty pleased with that."
