Better Than Ready measures up as major player in Newmarket Handicap - Herald Sun

Flemington trackwork. Better Than Ready (left) ridden by Craig Williams beats home Shamexpress ridden by Craig Newitt in their barrier trial. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

PROFESSIONAL analysts believe Better Than Ready is poised to take the big step needed to win today's $1 million Newmarket Handicap.

After finishing second to stablemate Black Caviar in the Lightning Stakes, Moment Of Change trimmed up to be a hot favourite for today's race.

He is seeking a third win in four years for Peter Moody, who will miss the race after being hospitalised for blood poisoning.

Ironically, a challenger from Moody's home state is looming as the main stumbling block to him being able to celebrate from hospital.

Time and sectional rating expert Daniel O'Sullivan said Better Than Ready, Moment Of Change and Barakey had a clear edge on their rivals based on his speed performance ratings, which take into account factors including overall time, sectional ability and top speed.

"When you allow for weight-for-age, his (Better Than Ready) last start Eagle Farm rating equates to the equal of Barakey and just short of Moment Of Change on my scale," O'Sullivan said.

"The key to his last start win was the big final sectional he produced. The overall time was around Listed level, but only the very top horses can run closing splits like he did and that stamped him as a genuine Group 1 contender.

"He has to now bring that rating to Melbourne but there's also the small chance he could improve.

"It's also worth noting he ran to a similar rating when he won in Sydney last year."

Respected analyst Dominic Beirne has Better Than Ready second pick behind Moment Of Change but rates the Queenslander better value than the favourite, owing to the weights.

"Whilst six of the past seven Newmarkets have been won by horses carrying 56kg or more, I'm banking on the weight-carrying statistic from the previous 10 years when all 10 winners carried 55kg or less," Beirne said in his column for Betfair Australia.

Craig Williams believed Better Than Ready got a little lost in his Flemington jumpout on Tuesday but feels the colt has the ability to win.

"He was outsprinted at one stage but I love the fact that when the other horse got in front of him, he really knuckled down to the task and he is a real competitor," Williams said.

* Racing Queensland will charter a helicopter to take jockeys to Toowoomba's showpiece Weetwood meeting on April 13, with the four feature races last on the card so they can ride in Brisbane.