Hearts are trumps for Pluck

Vinery sire Pluck has received another black-type update just six weeks out from his first yearlings going under the hammer at the Gold Coast Magic Millions.

Pluck’s younger half-sister Three Hearts rolled to a half-length victory on turf in the G3 Red Carpet Hcp (2200m) at Del Mar on Saturday.  “She’s such a classy filly to ride and relaxed so nicely,” jockey Joe Talamo said.  “We still had a lot left in the tank.”

Three Hearts (4f Hat Trick – Secret Heart by Fort Wood) is a Team Valor homebred and she had been based on the East Coast earlier in her career winning twice and earning a Group 3 placing in the Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs.

The G3 Red Carpet was formerly run as the Beverly Hills Hcp at Hollywood Park until that track was closed in December last year.

“I’ve only had this filly since September,” Hall Of Fame trainer Neil Drysdale said.  “Team Valor has decided to send some horses out to the West Coast again.  We took the blinkers off and I think she can go a longer distance than today.”

Three Hearts will be a readymade replacement for Team Valor at stud following the death of her dam Secret Heart (Fort Wood) in July.  The South African bred mare foaled Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Pluck first-up and, following Three Hearts, her final foals are colts by Kitten’s Joy and Medaglia d’Oro.

Team Valor president Barry Irwin has close ties with Vinery sires – his Group 1 winning filly Euro Charline is a daughter of Myboycharlie and she is being set for the $6 million Dubai Duty Free in March.

Pluck is a son of Vinery champion More Than Ready and he has 9 first-crop yearlings catalogued for the Gold Coast Magic Millions.  The first three to parade are fillies being presented by Vinery (as agent).

Lot 85:  From a half-sister to South African stars Fighting Warrior (G1 Golden Horseshoe) & Royal Zulu Warrior (G2 Emperors Palace Mile).

Lot 114:  Half-sister to Afleet Esprit who won the G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude at Caulfield in September.

Lot 199:  Dam Diamond Cove won LR Bow Mistress Trophy and races at Flemington, Caulfield & Moonee Valley.

Pluck has 109 foals in his first crop and he’s currently serving a third book at Vinery for an $11,000 (inc gst) fee.

 

Three Hearts Red Carpet HcpTHREE HEARTS