Samaready stunned a star-studded field in the Moir Stakes (Aus-I) Sept. 27 at Moonee Valley, scoring a four-length triumph over highly regarded Buffering.
Winner of last year's edition of the race when a group II event, Buffering was the 7-2 favorite this year. He led from multiple group winner Snitzerland for much of the 1,200-meter (about six-furlong) contest and appeared en route to his first group I victory 200 meters out.
Previously placed nine times at the top level, Buffering was again denied a breakthrough as he was no match for Samaready, who circled the field on the turn and wore him down for a decisive win under Craig Newitt.
The 4-year-old More Than Ready mare was timed in 1:11.25 to tally at 7-1 odds. She won for the second time from as many starts in a comeback from an injury that sidelined her for a year. Overall, she has six wins and third from eight lifetime starts, including her triumph in the 2012 Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes (Aus-I).
Samaready's stablemate Le Bonsir finished third, 6 1/4 lengths behind Buffering. Group I winners Moment Of Change, Bel Sprinter, and Epaulette finished fourth, sixth, and seventh, respectively, in the 10-horse field. Snitzerland faded to finish eighth.
Samaready is trained by Mick Price for a partnership that includes Peter Orton, general manger of Vinery Stud, which has campaigned the mare throughout her career. She is out of the winning Secret Savings mare Samar, a half sister to multiple Australian group I winner County Tyrone.
Samaready is among 123 stakes winners for elite international sire More Than Ready, a 16-year-old son of Southern Halo. He stands the Southern Hemisphere season at Vinery and the Northern Hemisphere season at WinStar Farm in Versailles, Kentucky.
