Plucky Belle Gives Jockey First Group I Win
Description:
Plucky Belle and Victorian jockey Linda Meech landed the biggest win of their careers March 14 at Rosehill Gardens when denying top 3-year-old filly First Seal a victory in the Coolmore Classic (Aus-I).
Caught wide and near last early, Plucky Belle was threaded through the pack and in a final lunge thrust out her head to win over 2014 Coolmore Flight Stakes (Aus-I) winner First Seal, who was seeking her first score at the highest level against older opponents. Group I winner Diamond Drille was short head back in third in a blanket finish.
Group I winners Amicus, Tinto, and Dear Demi finished fourth, seventh, and 12th, respectively, in the 13-horse field.
Odds-on favorite First Seal broke free to lead on the outside at the 200-meter mark but ultimately settled for second when Pluck Belle won the photo finish with barely a thick lip between them.
Time for 1,500 meters (about 7 1/2 furlongs) was 1:29.38 on good turf.
Trained by Peter Moody for breeder D.P.R. Epslin, 6-year-old Plucky Belle improved to 5-5-2 from 25 career starts. The Australian-bred daughter of Mossman was produced by Zabeel's group II winning daughter Winning Belle, who was twice group I-placed.