At his sixty-second start, the seven-year-old Pluck (USA) gelding Happy Go Plucky opened his stakes account with a fighting win in Saturday’s Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m).
One of five horses in work with Gold Coast-based trainer John Gilmore, Happy Go Plucky kept up a strong gallop under Stephanie Thornton to defeat So You Win (So You Think) by a neck with Flash Aah (Lucas Cranach), a long-head back in third.
Purchased by John Simpson for just $7,300 out of the Vinery Stud draft at the 2015 National Yearling Sale, Happy Go Plucky advances his record to ten wins, ten seconds, and eight thirds from 62 starts, with earnings of $462,210.
Recovering from a hip replacement, Gilmore said Happy Go Plucky loves to win.
“The boy that rides him every day said you couldn’t get him any better. He worked super on Tuesday morning,” Gilmore said.
“He just goes on and on and on. He has won every year, as a 2yo, 3yo, 4yo, 5yo, 6yo, and 7yo – he just keeps winning.
“A friend of mine said to send him to Melbourne, and he will win a Grand National. “
A half-brother to stakes-placed Cabeza de Vaca (Northern Meteor), Happy Go Plucky is the best of four winners from five to race out of the stakes-winning Hussonet (USA) mare Dirty.
Bred by Greg Perry, Happy Go Plucky becomes the fifth stakes-winner for Vinery resident Pluck (USA) (More Than Ready).
Dirty has a 2yo Vancouver colt that Wattle Bloodstock purchased for $60,000 at the 2020 Inglis Scone Yearling Sale.
After foaling a Rubick filly last spring, Dirty was covered by Written Tycoon.
