Pins Gelding Sir Plush Toughs It Out in Gosford Cup

Mark Smith - Thursday January 17

After 15 months out of the winner's circle, the 6-year-old Pins gelding Sir Plush earned a career highlight win in Thursday's $150,000 Listed Gosford Gold Cup (2100m).

Given the run of the race by Glyn Schofield, Sir Plush wore down the game Deep Impact gelding Satono Rasen (JPN) to win by a half-head High Chaparral's Fabrizio one and a half lengths back in third.

Advertisement

A grand servant for the Bjorn Baker stable, Sir Plush advances his record to 8 wins, 7 seconds and 3 from 36 starts with earnings of $498,585. (photo Steve Hart )


"I had the most beautiful run. He was a little bit unfortunate he didn't win the other day, but he showed a lot of fight and gave me the indication that stepping up in trip wouldn't be a bad idea so well done to Bjorn and Jack (Bruce) for putting him in this race," Schofield told Sky Racing.

"I put him to sleep to make sure he would run the trip out and when the pressure came at the 600 I didn't want to go so sat and bided my time and made sure I had a horse to run out the trip."

Stable Forman Jack Bruce said it was a well-deserved first stakes win.

"It's good for (owner) Maurie McLeod to get a Listed winner. Bjorn's had some good results for him, so this is another feather in his cap," Bruce said.

"I thought it was a good ride. It was a funny run race, they pored the pressure on from the 600 (metres) and he was going backwards. But he is tough, he always has been, that's his best attribute. Bjorn built him up slowly and really had him fit for this race today.

"He's always been a very good horse, very sound, it's good he got a Listed win because he deserves it."

Bred in New Zealand by Amadi Park, Sir Plush is the third and final foal of the imported Theatrical mare Luxurious Lady (USA) who died a few months after foaling Sir Plush.

Her second foal Twya (Thewayyouare) won the Listed Wanganui Guineas while her first foal Shaky (Pins) won in New Zealand and Malaysia.

Luxurious Lady (USA) comes from a family that has enjoyed considerable success in the southern hemisphere.

Her granddam Grand Luxe (Sir Ivor) is also the third dam of Flying Spur and fourth dam of Encosta de Lago both champion sires in Australia.

Sir Plush becomes the 80th stakes-winner for Pins who died at Waikato Stud in April last year due to complications from colic.

Advertisment
More Reading...
€1.9million Sale-Topping Colt Wins G3 Somerville Stakes
The Group III Somerville Stakes (7f) was run at Newmarket overnight with the Godolphin blue carried by exciting Night of Thunder colt Distant Storm, who they purchased for a sale-topping €1.9million at the Arqana May Breeze Up Sale earlier this year.
Inglis Confirm Skybird for Everest Slot
Inglis is thrilled to confirm G1 winner Skybird (Exosphere) as our representative for the running of the $20m The Everest.
Invincible Filly Snares $100,000 Inglis Bonus
The least expensive filly by champion sire I Am Invincible sold at Inglis Easter in 2024, Wear the Crown always looked to have been well bought at $260,000 by Seib/Racing / Champion Thoroughbreds and she set about repaying her purchase price at Goulburn on Thursday.
Golden Rose Colts – Sires of the Future
The $1million Group I ATC Golden Rose (1400m) this Saturday offers the winner far more than prizemoney and assuming it’s a colt he is given a golden ticket to a commercial stud career, so let’s take a look at this year’s contenders, who would you want on your stallion roster in 2026?
La Dorada Chasing Redemption at Valley
Last season’s champion NZ two-year-old La Dorada will be out to prove her ability against her Australian counterparts on Friday night when she contests the Gr.3 Scarborough Stakes (1200m) at The Valley.
Breeding to Win - 2025 Manikato Stakes
Racing at The Valley on Grand Final Eve in Melbourne - the southern capital doing what it does best, bringing people together in celebration of sporting greatness!
Residential Front Running Win in G3 Valachi Downs Breeders Stakes
Consistent mare Residential scored her biggest career victory when she led all the way to take out the Group III Valachi Downs South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton on Saturday.
Pins Colt Purple Sector a Class Above in Rough Habit
After watching on as former pupil Vega One blitzed the field in the Listed Queensland Day Stakes, John Thompson had his own reason to cheer when the three-year-old Pins colt Purple Sector earned his first black-type in Saturday’s Group III Rough Habit Plate at Doomben.
Pins Filly Wins G2 Wellington Guineas
An emotional Kevin Hughes was pleasantly surprised to get the judges call in his favour when his bonny filly Emily Margaret prevailed in a tight finish to the Group II Norwood Family Wellington Guineas (1400m) at Trentham on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Thursday September 25
Here is the full list of 28 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.