Veteran Happy Go Plucky not to be Denied in Ipswich Cup

Mark Smith - Saturday June 19

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.

Well done 'Happy' (image Racing QLD)

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.

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“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.

Happy Go Plucky a $7,300 National yearling

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.

Pluck (image Mark Smith)

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Race Result - Tab Ipswich Cup LR 2150m

Ipswich Track: Good(4) Time: 2:12.74
1
Happy Go Plucky
- 7g Pluck (USA) x Dirty (AUS) (Hussonet (USA))
Tnr: J A Gilmore Rdr: Ms S Thornton 54
Pluck
2
0.3
So You Win
- 6g So You Think (NZ) x Rhode Island Red (USA) (Tale Of The Cat (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: L R Dittman 58
So You Think
3
0.5
Flash Aah
- 5g Lucas Cranach (GER) x Never Despair (AUS) (Hotel Grand (AUS))
Tnr: M J Fry Rdr: Madeleine Wishart 54
4
1.0
Maid Of Ore
- 6m Duporth (AUS) x Feisty Rose (AUS) (Fusaichi Pegasus (USA))
Tnr: N J Olive Rdr: B El-Issa 54
5
1.2
Laure Me In
- 6g Ad Valorem (USA) x Laurelling (USA) (Highest Honor (FR))
Tnr: M J Dunn Rdr: J Byrne 56
6
3.0
Traduce
- 4g Savabeel (AUS) x Villifye (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Ms M Brosnan Rdr: R Fradd 54
7
4.3
Humbolt Current
- 6g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Humdrum (GB) (Dr Fong (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Craig Williams 54
8
5.8
Victory Eight
- 7g Nadeem (AUS) x Queen's Colours (GB) (Rainbow Quest (USA))
Tnr: T N Miller Rdr: Ron Stewart 54
9
11.3
Picka Plum
- 6m Falkirk (NZ) x Picka Peach (NZ) (Yamanin Vital (NZ))
Tnr: P P Jenkins Rdr: Taylor Marshall 54
10
16.1
In Good Health
- 5m Congrats (USA) x Fitness (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: P G Moody Rdr: Ryan Maloney 56.5
11
27.1
Jumeirah Triangle
- 3g Outreach (AUS) x Terhaab (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: James Hepworth Rdr: A Spinks 54
12
28.9
Inverloch
- 7g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Ideal (GB) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: L V Cassidy 60.5
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