Better Than Ready set for big improvement, trainer says Better Than Ready is set for big things after winning the Listed Mick Dittman Plate, his trainer says. BETTER Than Ready earned high praise from the man whose name adorned the winning trophy after winning the Listed Mick Dittman Plate (1000m) yesterday. Bookmakers took no chances with Better Than Ready, who looked a weighted certainty and went to the post a $1.60 chance. But those who bet the weekly mortgage were searching for a stiff scotch inside the distance when leader Rocky King was still full of running. "I was a little bit worried," trainer Kelly Schweida conceded, while winning jockey Ric McMahon admitted he may have been "too confident" at one stage. "When they were still two lengths in front of me I started to get a bit worried but he put his head down and really finished off strongly," McMahon said. He will take good benefit from that. He had a good blow after it. At 1200m he gets traveling better and that's when you will really see him finish off. Dittman urged Schweida to push onto the Stradbroke and claimed the win was never in doubt. "He's a lovely horse and there's some good races in him," Dittman said. I was actually impressed with his run in the Newmarket. I don't think that's his go, being ridden close like that, and when you look to a Stradbroke, a big finisher like him is exactly what you want. Schweida will now wait three weeks for the BTC Cup and follow a WFA path into the Stradbroke on June 8. "Let's be honest, he has to lift a bit to be winning a race like the Stradbroke, but he got the job done and in the end it was pretty soft," Schweida said. He's a long way from being at his best right now, but I'm happy where he's at. Better Than Ready completed a winning treble for Schweida, following earlier wins by Epic and Octane Flyer. Shrewd Hawkesbury trainer Noel Mayfield-Smith placed Famous Seamus to perfection in having him in Brisbane for yesterday's Listed Hinkler Handicap. Jockey Glen Colless said Famous Seamus had his rivals covered soon after straightening. "He was a little bit of a crab down the straight and they did tell me he has a tendency to hang in, but once he got on the fence in the run he was fine," Colless said. It completed a winning double for Colless after earlier success on Volkhere. Famous Seamus, who had placed in the Newcastle Newmarket last month before a two lengths fifth in the Group 2 Ajax, landed some good bets, being backed from $4.60 to $4. The Brent Stanley trained Utah Saints backed up from a close up fifth in last week's Weetwood to nail down second. River Lad continued his rich vein of form and ran on strongly for third under his 58kg, while Border Rebel ran his best race in ages, battling on for fourth.