Mossman mare Plucky Belle raced right up to her name with a courageous victory in the G3 Lavazza Short Black (1400m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day.

Jockey Luke Nolan gunned her past class runner Arinosa in the straight to win by over a length.  “Things worked out well,” trainer Peter Moody said after the mare banked $120,000.  “Luke was able to hold her together and come off Arinosa’s back at the furlong.  She deserved a stakes win.”

Plucky Belle (4m Mossman – Winning Belle by Zabeel) has won 4 of her 16 starts and was a last-start second to Diamond Earth in the G3 Nivision (1200m) at Randwick.  “We always thought she was going to be a mare not a filly,” Moody added.  “She was very strong at the finish.”

Moody’s mare is the third Group winner in 12 days for Vinery sire Mossman.  His star sprinter Buffering bagged the G1 Manikato Stakes on October 24 and Royal Zulu Warrior won the G2 Emperors Palace Charity Mile in South Africa on Saturday.

Tuesday’s winner is raced by the Esplin family who bred her from G2 Queensland Guineas winner Winning Belle.  The mare foaled a filly by Authorized in August.

Vinery stands Mossman for a $19,800 (inc gst) service fee.

– Karl Patterson