John Singleton has purchased the southern breeding rights to last month’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Pluck.  The More Than Ready colt will join his own sire shuttling to Vinery commencing in 2011 or 2012.

“I saw Pluck’s Breeders Cup win and it was incredible performance,” Singleton explained.  “I only have a minority interest but it’s enough to give us the rights to shuttle him to Vinery.”

Pluck (2c More Than Ready – Secret Heart by Fort Wood) came from last to win the G2 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf from Soldat (War Front) and Willcox Inn (Harlan’s Holiday).  He is prepared by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher but may change trainers to be set for the 2011 classics in Europe.

Pluck stumbled at the start of the Breeders’ Cup but averted potential disaster when angling wide of Rough Sailing who fell at the first turn.  He made quick progress from the rear and surged past his rivals to score by a length.  “When he had to avoid the fallen horse, I was hoping he could regroup and at least hit the board,” Pletcher said.  “But he really exploded down the lane.”

Pluck is a Team Valor homebred and is out of South African bred mare Secret Heart who was a Listed winner of the Prix du Cap at Kenilworth.  She has a yearling colt by Clairborne Farm sire Arch and a weanling filly by former Independent Stallions shuttler Hat Trick.

Pluck completed a Breeders’ Cup double for More Than Ready at Churchill Downs with More Than Real having won the Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Besides the Breeders’ Cup winners, the Vinery champion has also sired the 2yo stakes winners Major Gain (G3 Arlington-Washington Futurity) and Road Ready (LR Golden Gate Lost in the Fog Stakes) in North America this year.

More Than Ready heads the Vinery Australia roster at fee of $121,000 (inc gst).

Vinery has also secured G2 winning juvenile Kantharos to stand at its Florida base in 2011.  The Lion Heart colt was raced by Jess Jackson’s Stonestreet Stables and was arguably the best youngster in North America this year.

Kantharos (2c Lion Heart – Contessa Halo by Southern Halo) was undefeated in three starts before injury curtailed his career.  He won a Churchill Downs maiden by 11 lengths in May and then was equally impressive with a runaway 9 length victory in the G3 Bashford Manor Stakes back under the Twin Spires.

He completed the hat-trick with a seven length victory in the G2 Saratoga Special Stakes in August before breaking down.