Exciting four-year-old sprinter Definitely Ready faces the most important test of his career when he makes his comeback from a throat operation at Flemington.
The winner of five of his nine starts, the Mark Kavanagh-trained gelding will have his first run in nine months in Saturday’s TCL Electronics Hcp (1000m).
Kavanagh’s son and Melbourne foreman, Levi Kavanagh, said that hopes were high that Definitely Ready could recapture his best form after he recently impressed in a jump out at Flemington, his most serious hitout since having the surgery for a breathing problem.
“We were very pleased with his jump out and couldn’t be happier with him,” Kavanagh said.
“We scoped him afterwards and at this stage the operation is a success, although we still have to try him under race day pressure.
“That is a query and also the fact that he is a frontrunning horse and it is hard for them to win down the straight.”
Definitely Ready suffered his first defeat at his only start down the straight at Flemington when fourth to Better Be The One on Melbourne Cup day in 2009 after winning his first three starts at Morphettville, Sandown and Caulfield.
Mark Kavanagh has always had a high regard for the son of More Than Ready and after another two wins the following autumn at Caulfield sent him to Sydney where he finished eighth in the Group One The Galaxy.
Last spring he was again disappointing and was unplaced at his only two starts before being diagnosed with a breathing problem.
“He was finding it hard to breathe and after his last run (when fifth to Set For Fame in the Group Two Caulfield Sprint) we knew he needed a tie-back operation,” Levi Kavanagh said.
He said plans were for Definitely Ready to go first-up into last Saturday’s Monash Stakes at Caulfield where he has run so well in the past, but time beat him.
“He just needed the extra week,” Kavanagh said.
“We will see how he goes tomorrow and that will tell the tale where we go with him in the spring.”
Kavanagh said Definitely Ready’s defining moment was at his third start when he won at Caulfield.
“My favourite memory of him was that day when he busted through the gates and went all the way to winning post and then went back to the start and won by something like three lengths,” Kavanagh said.
TAB Sportsbet rates Definitely Ready ($3.40) as the horse to beat for $3 favourite Warm Love who is backing up after her first-up third to Secret Flyer in the Monash Stakes.
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