Ready To Rush defies injury battles to emerge as Kosciuszko hope

Ready To Rush, the race mare who has had such a lengthy list of injury issues some joke she has kept a veterinary practice viable, scored an impressive win in the TAB Highway (1000m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Matthew Dale has kept Ready To Rush in his system despite the mare’s injury issues and she is starting to finally realise her obvious potential.

“She’s had three knee surgeries and there was some talk if we could even get her back,” Dale said.

“But full credit to the ownership group and Kurrinda Bloodstock who have been super patient.

“I train her solely off my farm just outside of Goulburn so that is why she presented a little ‘wintery’ today.
“It’s a long way from Cootamundra and Gundagai to these Highways but she has taken that next step, it was great to see.”

Ready To Rush ($11), well-ridden by Rachel King, held off Sneaky Pee Cee ($6.50) to win by nearly a length with Magic Speed ($81) a close third.

READY TO RUSH is ready to win and does exactly that in the @tabcomau Highway for Matt Dale & @RachelK11! 💥@aus_turf_club @racing_nsw pic.twitter.com/irtEp4pCf5

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 8, 2026

Lady Olenna, the $4.40 favourite, settled back in the field but was doing her best work on the line to be beaten just over a length.

Despite Ready To Rush’s relative race inexperience, King said she loved the mare’s relaxed temperament and her desire under pressure.

“We had to duck and weave and go inside a horse and she was like ‘are you sure’ but the more I asked her the more she kept finding,” King said.

Ready To Rush improved her record to three wins and a second from her four starts and could come into consideration for a possible $2 million The Kosciuszko campaign.

“I didn’t have her in my Kosciuszko plans before today,” Dale admitted.

“But winner’s win and she is gaining in confidence all the time.”

Dale revealed he trains Ready To Rush on a sand track at his farm just outside of Goulburn to “help keep her sound”.

“She had a jump out with two of my better mares So You Pence and Rose Aye the other day and was half a length off them.

“So You Pence then came out and won a Saturday race and she was half a length off her so that gave us a bit of confidence going into today.”