The Queanbeyan-based horseman has the promising filly Girls Are Ready (Better Than Ready) set for Saturday’s Member Get Member H. at Warwick Farm in the hope she can book her spot in the $2 million Star Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
“She’ll definitely back up and she had a super sharp gallop with a mate on Wednesday morning, it was impressive work,” Cleary said.
“Straight after the race she’ll go to the farm for five days off and then head to the Gold Coast on the 2nd or 3rd of January.” - Joe Cleary.
“We’re going full steam ahead. Straight after the race she’ll go to the farm for five days off and then head to the Gold Coast on the 2nd or 3rd of January.”
In the middle of this year, Cleary was on the verge of moving to the Gold Coast until Racing NSW unveiled a $24 million stakes injection across the board.
“We had one foot across the border, but then the prize money increases were announced and my wife and I met with our accountant and it was a no brainer to stay,” he said.
“Money is like oxygen, you need it to live so Queanbeyan will be home for a few more years.” – Joe Cleary.
“Money is like oxygen, you need it to live so Queanbeyan will be home for a few more years.
“We had looked at properties and I had a hand shake agreement on a barn for 14 horses.
Joe Cleary (right) with his father, Frank
“We had planned to be there by Christmas, but with the money on offer here, we’ll put up with the cold winters here a bit longer.
“I touched base with our major clients and in the end it was a common sense decision, especially with Highways going up to $75,000.
“You're either racing for $75,000 at Randwick or $16,000 at the Gold Coast and it basically became a no brainer to stay.” – Joe Cleary.
“You're either racing for $75,000 at Randwick or $16,000 at the Gold Coast and it basically became a no brainer to stay.”
Cleary is still focussed on Queensland, but for the big pot of gold on offer on Magic Millions day with Girls Are Ready. She was third on debut and then won last Friday at Canterbury where she beat Godolphin’s odds-on favourite Devachan (Exceed And Excel).
“If she doesn’t make the field there’s a race the following week at Eagle Farm for her and either way she can have a good spell in Queensland afterwards,” he said.
“She keeps taking the next step though. Nothing fazes her and she got home last Friday night at 9.30 and licked the bowl clean.”
Girls Are Ready was a $30,000 Magic Millions purchase
Cleary purchased Girls Are Ready for $30,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale.
“I can’t compete with the big boys so I focus on the Sunday session.” – Joe Cleary.
“I can’t go to the sales and spend big money,” he said. “I can’t compete with the big boys so I focus on the Sunday session.”
Cleary’s Sharlene is the filly’s managing part-owner and his mother also has a racing share in the youngster, who races in father Frank’s colours.
Girls Are Ready is a daughter of Commanding Epic (Commands), who is out of a half-sister to the G2 Light Fingers S. winner Sharp (Danzero) and a three-quarter sister to the Listed Carmichael S. winner Portsmouth (Royal Academy {USA}).
A headline act in the pedigree is the G1 Flight S. winner and multiple Group 2 winner Angst (Kala Dancer {GB}).
