Prized Pluck at Classic Sale

A Pluck (USA) colt has been purchased by Hong Kong trainer Tony Millard for $380,000 at the Inglis Classic yearling sale.

Pluck stands at Vinery Stud and a string of good results plus a Group 1 update saw his Hunter Valley raised colt attract some spirited bidding around the new Riverside Stables sale-ring on Monday.

“He was very busy at the parades,” Tooloogan Vale’s Geoff Harris said.  “He’s a very impressive type…correct, well-balanced, lovely walker and his x-rays were perfect.”

The Pluck colt (Lot 466) is a half-brother to last-start Hong Kong Classic Mile Gr.1 winner Nothingilikemore.  He was bred by Steve Smith and heads to Hong Kong where Pluck has already been seen to advantage with recent winners like Jade Theatre (Challenge Cup).

Pluck (More Than Ready) has developed into a dependable source of winners for Vinery at home and abroad.  He has sired the winners of 100 races – reaching that mark when Plucky Girl saluted at Gold Coast on Saturday.

She brought up a double for Pluck – his Scone-based sprinter Star Boy had won a Warwick Farm Highway Hcp earlier in the day for Brett Cavanough.

Plucky Girl is the winningest Pluck with 6 strikes for Gold Coast trainer Toby Edmonds.  His Tasmanian mare Life On The Wire is level-pegging and she missed a chance to go one better in the Bow Mistress Trophy-Gr.3 at Elwick on Friday evening.

She was tote favourite but came out 90 minutes before the race when trainer Scott Brunton reported the mare had sustained a minor injury in a stable accident.  Connections are hoping to have her right in time for the Vamos Stakes-Gr.3 later this month.

Pluck’s $380,000 yearling broke his previous sale-ring record set by Mongolian Wolf who made $200,000 at the 2015 Karaka 2YO Sale.  He went on to win the Frank Packer Plate-Gr.3 at Randwick for Darren Weir.

CLASSIC PLUCK
Vinery sire’s record-breaking yearling pictured before Monday’s Sale