Lady Pluck has added her name to the list of Tasmanian raiders to target black-type on the mainland this year.

The 3yo daughter of Vinery sire Pluck (USA) shipped across Bass Strait to run in the Walk For Phil Hcp (1100m) at Caulfield last Saturday and she gave the locals a galloping lesson to win by over a length.  It was her first trip back to Melbourne since a straight-six placing in the Cap d’Antibes Stakes LR at Flemington in September.

“She’s a ripper but I was a bit worried when she was on edge before the race,” trainer Scott Brunton admitted.  “She jumped from a sticky gate and was caught three-wide but got the job done like one tough filly.”

Lady Pluck will return to Brunton’s Seven Mile Beach stables in Hobart where a decision will be made on her next assignment.  “We’ve got a great set-up and our results of late have shown we can match it with the big boys any day of the week.  She can be hot-headed away from her own environment and will have learn to grow up and relax on the road.”

The Euclase Stakes Gr.2 at Morphettville on May 4 is favoured at this stage although there is a Super VOBIS sprint worth $135,000 on the same day at Flemington.

“It’s hard to pass up that money in Melbourne – she would have to win about seven races at home to earn that much,” Brunton explained.  “But black-type in the Euclase would be more valuable for her owners in the long run.”

Brunton has an affinity with Pluck’s progeny – he also prepares Life On The Wire who has won 9 races in 18 starts, including a running double at Sandown last season and a Group 3 in the Vamos Stakes at Mowbray.

He purchased both fillies at the Adelaide Magic Millions and will be hoping good luck comes in threes after buying another Pluck filly there last month.  The latest acquisition is from Krystallia (Big Brown) who is a half-sister to Singapore stakes-performer Merchant.

Pluck is a son of More Than Ready and his 2yo filly Royal Eclipse was an impressive winner at Tamworth last Friday.  The Allan Denham-trained youngster sat outside Bronte (Royal Eclipse) and then dropped the favourite under a hands-and-heels ride by Greg Ryan.

Royal Eclipse is a half-sister to Melbourne stakes winners Malasun and Stokehouse and was a $52,500 graduate from Vinery at the 2018 Inglis Classic Sale.  Their dam Malapert (Encosta De Lago) has a yearling filly by Vinery sire Headwater.

LADY PLUCK