Pluck (USA) led home a Vinery quinella when his promising 3yo Flash Cash nailed a narrow victory at Bendigo on Wednesday.
Flash Cash and front-runner Boom Chicka Boom drew away from the rest of the field for a stirring duel in the No Fuss Event Hire Maiden Plate (1100m). The runner-up is by All Too Hard and was backed confidently on debut into a $2.10 favourite.
“We were travelling well but the leader pinched a half-length on us around the corner,” winning jockey Damian Lane reported. “I didn’t know whether we could make up the ground but he really knuckled down and did a great job to get there right on the line.”
Flash Cash is trained by Matt Laurie who has All Too Hard colt Aberro in the G1 Victoria Derby this Saturday. He bought the Bendigo winner for $45,000 from Bhima Stud at the 2016 Magic Millions National yearling sale.
“Matt has always had a high opinion of Flash Cash,” syndicate manager Sash Petrevski said after the opening event on Bendigo Cup day. “We were confident after his last run at Moe and all the owners are here to celebrate.”
Pluck sired him from Li’l Cashy (Keltrice), a David Balfour-trained speedball who won 8 sprints in Adelaide and another at Caulfield. Her first foal by a Vinery sire was Myboycharlie winner Embecee Lil who holds nominations for Morphettville this Saturday and Flemington on Tuesday.
Owner-breeders John Coleman and Jamie Cooper kept the mare at Vinery for her next mating with Pluck. This Saturday will be the anniversary of his breath-taking victory in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Churchill Downs.
Vinery stands Pluck (More Than Ready) for a $9,900 (inc gst) service fee and he can complete a winning double with Life On The Wire in Race 6 at Launceston on Wednesday night. A black-type filly last season, she will shoulder 59kg but has a class edge on her rivals.
Lucky Louie, another stakes-performed Pluck filly, is ready for a Group 2 assignment in the Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington this Saturday.
PLUCK
In-form Vinery stallion wins the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in 2010