Having an aversion to wet tracks doesn’t help if you’re stabled in Tasmania but that didn’t prevent Life On The Wire winning first-up in the Field Family Hcp (1220m) on Wednesday.

The first-crop daughter of Pluck (USA) ploughed through a Heavy 10 to prevail on the first night meeting of the season at Mowbray.  Jockey Craig Newitt, who has returned home to ride in Tassie, reported the classy mare was never happy in the conditions.

“I thought we were in real trouble when he floundered after going only 50 metres.  But she started to travel coming down the side and picked up when I asked.”

Life On The Wire has always been rated highly by trainer Scott Brunton.  She finished fourth on debut in the Gold Sovereign Stakes-LR before paying her dues with restricted wins at Elwick and Devonport.

Brunton brought her back to Listed level for the summer carnival earlier this year and she was right up to the task with a narrow loss to Hot Dipped in the Tasmanian Guineas (1600m) and a distant second to Sydney raider Northwest Passage in the Hobart Guineas (2100m).

Her dam Our Seventh Heaven (Vettori) won the Taupo Cup in NZ and close relation What Life Brings was also trained by Brunton to win the 2013 Hobart Guineas.  “She’s far superior horse on firmer ground,” he said.  “I felt sorry for her having to work that hard first-up so I will give her plenty of time to recover.”

Life On The Wire is the 10th individual winner this season by Pluck who is based at Vinery for a $9,900 (inc gst) service fee.  He is coming off a Top 6 spot on the 2016-17 Australian second-season tables for winners (30) and wins (44).

Pluck has two entrants for the Inglis Ready2Race Sale at Oaklands next Wednesday, October 4.  Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm has catalogued Lot 22, a colt from Special Cuvee that breezed a quick 10.27s and Lot 118, a close relation of Champion Australian Female Sprinter Samaready (More Than Ready).

LIFE ON THE WIRE
Photo: Greg Mansfield / The Examiner