Vinery sire Pluck (USA) is making encouraging progress with his first crop and leading the way is his Kiwi colt Gasoline.

The Murray Baker trained two year-old broke through at Ellerslie on Boxing Day and he was back in action winning a Matamata trial on Tuesday morning. Watch the trial here; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPLhUFW-lYc#t=2m

“He’s a very good horse and it was a super trial,” Baker reported.  “Pluck is doing a good job at stud and our colt is a lovely horse with a great temperament.

“We will nominate him for New Plymouth on Saturday week or wait for the Listed Waikato Stud Slipper a week later.”

Gasoline’s Group 1 goal this autumn is the Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on March 12.  If successful, his connections will then have the option of starting in the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni or crossing the Tasman with star stablemate Mongolian Khan for the G1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes at Randwick.  Both races are scheduled for Saturday, April 2.

Baker and his training partner Andrew Forsman also prepare the Pluck – Oomaroo colt that finished fourth in a strong trial on Tuesday.  He cost $200,000 at the NZB Ready To Run Sale in November and is from an unraced half-sister to G2 Surround Stakes winner Thump (Red Ransom).

Meanwhile in Melbourne, Nick Ryan has Pluck colt Removal primed to make his debut.  The rookie Caulfield-based trainer sounded upbeat in an interview on Sky Sports Radio telling Andrew Bensley his youngster will kick off at Moonee Valley next Friday night.

All going well, a black-type race could then be on the cards for Removal who cost $55,000 at last year’s Magic Millions National yearling sale.  He is a half-brother to Eagle Farm juvenile winner Combatant.

Vinery stood Pluck for a $9,900 service fee last year and he is coming off a successful Inglis Classic Sale where 100% of his yearlings sold for an average of $66,500.  The quartet was topped by a $100,000 colt targeted by trainer Kurt Goldman.

Promising Pluck colt Cogliere turned in a tremendous finish to the $250,000 Inglis Classic (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.  He arrived in Sydney off wins at Coffs Harbour & Grafton and flew home from 13th on the corner to finish fourth – beaten 1.5 lengths – by Twist Tops.

Pluck (More Than Ready) won the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Churchill Downs and his next yearlings going under the hammer – 3 colts and 2 fillies – have been catalogued for the Adelaide Magic Millions on March 14.