Plucky Targets Back-To-Back Cups

With Stephanie Thornton in the saddle, 7YO gelding Happy Go Plucky (Pluck-Dirty, by Hussonet) produced a career best performance last start to capture the Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m) and on Saturday will be aiming for back-to-back ‘Cups’ when he lines up in the Listed Calounda Cup (2400m) at the Sunshine Coast. Trained at the Gold Coast by John Gilmore, the Greg Perry-bred and Vinery Stud-sold gelding is yet to taste victory at 2400m, but with four of his ten career wins at 2150m and above, there is no better chance to tackle the trip with the in-form runner. With form around many of the runners in the field, the addition of the Joe Pride-trained Stockman (Tavistock-Crimson, by Zabeel) and the Bjorn Baker-trained Parry Sound (Pierro-Aqua d’Amore, by Danehill) brings a new formline to the race with the pair finishing first and third respectively last time out in the Listed McKell Cup at Rosehill. Punters will need to decide if the form around Gr1 winner Mirage Dancer (Frankel-Heat Haze, by Green Desert), beaten 12 lengths into second last time out behind Incentivise (Shamus Award,) is good enough.