3 minute read

It is not often a trainer gets a horse off Gai Waterhouse and improves it by lengths, but that is exactly what Moruya based trainer Luke Pepper has done with Miss Ready, who lines up in the Hylands Race Colours Handicap (1550m) at Canterbury on Wednesday.

The four-year-old mare came to Pepper a maiden after five starts for Waterhouse and has subsequently gone on to win three of her four runs for the stable, and had plenty of excuses when running ninth at Kembla Grange two starts back.

“She is by far and away the best horse I have ever trained,” said Pepper.

“I am wrapped with her, she is in good order and she has had a couple of weeks between runs and we are looking forward to Wednesday,” he added.

“She had no luck at Kembla and pretty much just followed them around and she never got a crack at them so she has not put a foot wrong since I have had her.”

Miss Ready will go for a spell no matter the result on Wednesday, but Pepper is confident from barrier 3 she can go out a winner.

“Wednesday is another step up for her in level but she has drawn a nice gate and I am sure she can handle it.”

“She will go straight to the paddock win, lose or draw and she will be set for the Magic Millions in January so she will have a six week break and come back for that in Queensland.”

Jay Ford will maintain the ride and from the good barrier will have plenty of options where she sits in the run, stepping up past 1400m for the first time in her career.

“She is a free-rolling type of horse so I wouldn't mind if she led but I will leave it in Jay's hands.”

“The extra distance should not be an issue for her she is a really relaxed horse and I think generally she will be a lovely mile horse once we get her up there.”