Funtastic

By: Alan Porter

“Grade one winner Funtastic is by three-time Leading Sire of Two-Year-Olds, More Than Ready, and is half-brother to Horse of the Year Saint Liam, and to the dam of Horse of the Year Gun Runner.”

Funtastic is not only a half-brother to Saint Liam, but is also by a grandson of Halo, where Saint Liam is by a son of that horse. Saint Liam sired nine stakes winners in his only crop, and they were headed by Horse of the Year Havre de Grace out of a mare by Carson City which invites trying daughters of City Zip, Cuvee, Five Star Day and Good and Tough. Carson City is by Mr. Prospector, and from another branch of that line Saint Liam sired stakes winner Saint Isabelle out of a Forty Niner mare, who was bred on the same cross as Distorted Humor (sire of Sharp Humor, Flower Alley, Drosselmeyer, Jimmy Creed and Maclean’s Music). Distorted Humor is by Forty Niner, and the More Than Ready cross with Forty Niner line mares has produced grade one winner Daredevil out of a mare by Forty Niner himself, as well as a graded winner out a mare by Distorted Humor, and stakes winners out of mares by Jules and Gold Fever, with other sources of Forty Niner including Trippi, End Sweep, Luhuk, Editor’s Note, Banker’s Gold and Twining. The Gone West branch of Mr. Prospector has done well under More Than Ready, including Champion Roy H out of a mare by Elusive Quality (sire of Quality Road), a graded stakes winner out of a mare by Zafonic (a brother to Zamindar), and stakes winners out of mares by Mr. Greeley, Grand Slam, Speightstown (sire of Munnings), West By West and Came Home.

Saint Liam is sire of graded stakes winner Liam’s Dream out of a mare by Rubiano, a son of Fappiano. The Fappiano branch of Mr. Prospector has done very well under More Than Ready, and crossing Funtastic out of mares by descending from Fappiano will give inbreeding to that horse, which should work well and is also found in Horse of the Year Gun Runner from this family. From this line, More Than Ready has a quartet of graded winners out of mares by Unbridled’s Song and two stakes winners out of a mare by Broken Vow, as well as a stakes winner from a daughter of their sire, Unbridled. Sons of Unbridled’s Song include Rockport Harbor, First Defence, Old Fashioned, Half Ours, Dunkirk, Even The Score and Songandaprayer, and Unbridled can also be brought in through Empire Maker, Grindstone and Birdstone. Funtastic is also half-brother to the dam of Horse of the Year Gun Runner, who is by Fappiano line stallion, Candy Ride (sire of Twirling Candy and Sidney’s Candy), a grandson of Cryptoclearance. The previously mentioned Rubiano is sire of Too Much Bling and Burning Roma.

There is a More Than Ready grade one winner out of a mare by a son of Conquistador Cielo, the sire of Marquetry, and grandsire of Artax; and graded stakes winners out of mares by Fusaichi Pegasus; Miswaki (sire of Black Tie Affair; grandsire of Formal Gold); De Niro (by Gulch, also sire of Thunder Gulch); and Prospect Bay (by Crafty Prospector, whose son Prospector’s Music is also broodmare sire of a More Than Ready line stakes winner). There are also stakes winners from daughters of Street Cry (sire of Street Sense and Street Boss), Kingmambo and his son Lemon Drop Kid, Distant View, Not For Love (a three-quarters brother to Woodman, the broodmare sire of More Than Ready), Jade Hunter and Hussonet.

Saint Liam sired stakes winners Moment of Majesty and Beyoundallboundarys out of mares by A.P. Indy. More Than Ready has sired graded stakes winner Hungry Island out of a mare by A.P. Indy, the outstanding grade one winner Catholic Boy out of a mare by A. P. Indy son, Bernardini (who gives an interesting inbreeding to Quiet American, and is sire of Stay Thirsty and To Honor and Serve), and grade one winner Room Service out of a mare by Old Trieste. This would also suggest trying Funtastic with mares by such as Malibu Moon (sire of two graded stakes winners out of a More Than Ready mare), Mineshaft, Pulpit (sire of Tapit, Sky Mesa and Stroll), Congrats and his brother Flatter (sire of a stakes winner out of a More Than Ready mare), Aptitude, Golden Missile, Jump Start, Majestic Warrior and Stephen Got Even. There is also a More Than Ready stakes winner and grade one performer out of a mare by Seattle Slew son, General Meeting, and it might also pay to introduce Seattle Slew through Capote (sire of Boston Harbor and Matty G).

From the Northern Dancer line, More Than Ready has enjoyed phenomenal success with mares from the Danzig branch, particularly through Danehill (who might be found in North America through daughters of North Light). There is also a More Than Ready line grade one winner out of a mare by Lure (sire of Orpen); graded stakes winners out of mares by Pine Bluff, Belong to Me and War Chant, and stakes winners out of mares by Langfuhr and Polish Numbers. In addition, Danzig might also be sourced through Hard Spun, War Front and Exchange Rate (who would be particularly interesting, giving the three-quarters related Woodman and Seeking the Gold).

Out of mares from the Storm Cat branch of Northern Dancer, More Than Ready has a stakes winner out of a mare by Storm Cat himself, and has sired grade one winner Verrazano out of a mare by Giant’s Causeway (brother to Freud, and sire of First Samurai) and grade one winner Rushing Fall out of a mare by Forestry (sire of Discreet Cat and Shackleford), and he and his sons also have a graded winner out of a mare by Storm Boot, and stakes winners out of mares by Forest Wildcat (sire of Wildcat Heir), Sir Cat, Hennessy (sire of Johannesburg and Henny Hughes; grandsire of Scat Daddy) and Tale of the Cat (sire of Lion Heart). Storm Cat might also be brought in through Bernstein, Stormy Atlantic, Stormin Fever, Harlan and his sons Menifee and Harlan’s Holiday (sire of Into Mischief, Majesticperfection and Shanghai Bobby), Catienus, Mountain Cat, Cat Thief and Yankee Gentleman.

More Than Ready sired an Australian Champion Two-Year-Old out of a Sadler’s Wells line mare, and in North America he has grade one winner Regally Ready out of a mare by King of Kings and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf scorer Pluck out of a mare by Fort Wood (sire of Horse Chestnut). It should also work well to try Funtastic over mares from the El Prado branch, available through Medaglia d’Oro, Kitten’s Joy and Artie Schiller.

Out of mares from the Deputy Minister branch of Northern Dancer, More Than Ready has Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf victress More Than Real out of a mare by Dehere (sire of Graeme Hall), and there also stakes winners from daughters of Service Stripe and French Deputy, which suggests considering daughters of Awesome Again (sire of Ghostzapper), Silver Deputy and sons, and Touch Gold. More Than Ready also has graded stakes winner Dixie Ready out of a mare by Dixieland Band and a stakes winner out of a mare by Dixie Brass and daughters of Dixie Union also appeal.

Out of mares from the Roberto line, More Than Ready has a graded stakes winner from a daughter of Red Ransom, two stakes winners out of mares by Kris S. (sire of Arch, Rock Hard Ten, You and I and Prized) and a stakes winner out of a mare by Dynaformer.

More Than Ready sired grade one winner Buster’s Ready out of an Honour and Glory half-sister to Funtastic. Honour and Glory is sire of Put It Back, and is by Relauch, who could also be brought in through Tiznow (sire of Tiz Wonderful), Skywalker, Bertrando and Officer. More Than Ready sired graded stakes winner La Chunga out of a mare by Wavering Monarch, the sire of Maria’s Mon, and grandsire of Super Saver. and out of mares from the Caro line he has graded stakes winner Ready to Act out of a mare by Mizzen Mast, and a stakes winner out of a mare by that horse’s sire, Cozzene, as well as graded winner Sonic Boom from a daughter of Indian Charlie (a son of In Excess, and himself sire of Uncle Mo). Saint Liam sire a stakes winner out of a mare by Broad Brush (sire of Include), and More Than Ready has grade one winner Tom’s Ready out of a mare by that horse.