Promising Pluck youngster Cogliere maintained his unbeaten record this prep – albeit with a dead-heat decision – in the Brotherson Plate (1000m) at Grafton on Sunday.
Cogliere gave his supporters a roller-coaster ride as an odds-on favourite after a victory at Coffs Harbour on January 10. He missed the kick and went out the back before jockey Ryan Wiggins took off approaching the home turn.
The race looked all over when he accelerated to a two-length lead in the straight but his condition gave out in the final stages and Charlee Bear (Choisir) fought back to share the spoils.
“He was probably unlucky not to win outright,” trainer Marc Quinn explained. “It was the first time Ryan was on his back and, in hindsight, he probably pulled the trigger too early.
“But I’m not critical of the ride. They were crawling up front and Ryan didn’t want to leave it too late. It’s just that turn of foot that caught him by surprise.”
Cogliere (2c Pluck – Final Star by Delago Brom) is still on track for the $250,000 Inglis 2YO Classic at Randwick on February 6. “He came back home and ate half his feed which is normal,” Quinn added. “It was a muggy day and the return float trip took 7 hours so he needed to rehydrate.
“He was bright and happy having a swim on Monday morning and, all going well, we will be at Randwick in a fortnight.”
Cogliere was bred and sold by Holbrook Thoroughbreds for $22,000 at the 2015 Inglis Classic Summer Book. He’s a member of Pluck’s first crop conceived at Vinery and is from a half-sister to the dam of Melbourne Group 3 winners Nediym’s Glow (General Nediym) and Red Colossus (Testa Rossa).
Meanwhile, Pluck’s Kiwi colt Gasoline has returned from a break to begin his build-up towards the G1 Diamond Stakes at Ellerslie on March 12.
The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman trained colt dented some big reputations with a second-up victory at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. “We freshened him up and he came back last week,” Forsman said. “He looks good and at this stage he will target the Diamond Stakes.”
Pluck (More Than Ready) has a half-dozen second-crop yearlings going under the hammer at the 2016 Inglis Classic Summer Book commencing on February 6.
