A partnership headed by Tom Simon’s Vinery Australia has purchased a 45% interest in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IIT) winner Pluck from the colt’s breeder/owner, Team Valor. Pluck, whose sire, More Than Ready , splits time as a stallion between Vinery Australia and Vinery near Lexington, has won three of five races and earned $725,440.
“It was a good deal for both parties,” said Team Valor president Barry Irwin. “We received four or five offers, and their offer was the best. We’re racing partners and breeding partners.
“They get a son of More Than Ready, who has done great down there as a stallion, and we get a good place to stand a stallion down there. Plus, the arrangement allows us to fulfill our racing dreams, which includes winning the Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-I). The only other (American-trained) horse to win the race was Fourstars Allstar in 1991.”
The Guineas is run at a mile at the Curragh in the spring.
Plans call for Pluck to run twice in the United States before heading to Ireland.
Pluck, who won the Juvenile Turf for trainer Todd Pletcher, has been transferred to trainer H. Graham Motion. Pluck is stabled at Palm Meadows in Florida.
Pluck is the first foal from the Fort Wood mare Secret Heart, who was a stakes winner and group I stakes-placed in her native South Africa.