The Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) has attracted the strongest juvenile field of the season to Rosehill this Saturday but that hasn’t intimidated Anthony Cummings and his Pluck filly Lucky Louie.
Inglis Nursery winner She Will Reign and undefeated colts Veranillo and Khan dominate pre-post markets in what’s shaping up as a true test for the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes on March 18.
Lucky Louie is resuming after black-type placings in the spring at Randwick (LR Gimcrack Stakes) and Flemington (G3 Ottawa Stakes). “We gave her an easy trial last month and there’s plenty of improvement in her whatever happens on Saturday,” assistant trainer Edward Cummings said. “She’s fit enough and tends to race a lot better than what she does at home.”
Lucky Louie is bred to be a top-level two year-old. Pluck (USA) was a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner at Churchill Downs before retiring to Vinery Stud alongside his sire More Than Ready who has claimed Golden Slippers with Sebring and Phelan Ready.
Her dam La Bella Luisa won an Eagle Farm juvenile and she is by Clang who sired Golden Slipper winner Calaway Gal.
“Everyone is looking at the Golden Slipper but we will take it day-by-day like we do with every two-year-old. Lucky Louie has the ability, she rattled off a couple of very nice sectionals at Flemington, and there’s every indication she will be suited by 1400 metres and further.”
Pluck is also a live chance in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) on Saturday week with Aspect.
The Tony McEvoy trained colt won the G3 Maribyrnong Plate during the Melbourne Cup carnival but failed first-up over 1000m at Caulfield a fortnight ago. “Forget that run,” McEvoy said. “He got beaten for speed and it was difficult to make ground with the rail out on that track.
“Kerrin (McEvoy) was happy with the run. He reckons the horse will be better over a bit further and he worked perfect at Flemington last week. We were going to accept for the Talindert Stakes this Saturday but decided to send him straight into the Blue Diamond.”