News and Media

24 October 2010

Winner: Waratah's Secret (Oratorio-Blissfully)
Race: WATC Prince of Wales Stakes G3 (1200m)
Sold for: $43,000
Sale: 2008 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale
Vendor: Mungrup Stud
Buyer: David Harrison
Earnings: $321,750
Owner(s): Mrs DM Sparkman, DH Atwell, LR Atwell, MF Atwell, GN Atwell, WN Atwell, Mrs CA Harbison, Mrs RE Collins, Mrs CM Green & Mrs MC Hoffmann
Trainer: David Harrison (Lark Hill)

Waratah's Secret confirmed himself as Western Australia's leading sprinter with a smashing win in Saturday's Group Three Prince of Wales Stakes (1200m) at Ascot.

A four-year-old son of Stravinsky's Australian raced sire son Oratorio, Waratah's Secret tracked the speed throughout before coming with a sizzling sprint in the race to win effortlessly.

At the post the second favourite held a widening one and three quarter length margin over the punter's elect Idyllic Prince.

Reigning Magic Millions Perth 3YO Trophy winner For Your Eyes Only was another neck back in third place.

David Harrison, who purchased Waratah's Secret for $43,000 from the 2008 Perth Yearling Sale, couldn't helped but be impressed with the performance from the stable star.

"It was a brilliant run," Harrison said. "It was a great ride."

"It was definitely his acid test. I was thinking he was always up to the class but with that weight was the question."

"But he's come through it in flying colours - I'm happy, happy as a pig."

Harrison said the outstanding gelding would now tackle the Colonel Reeves Stakes before Perth's feature sprint race, the Winterbottom Stakes.

A graduate of Gray and Jan Williamson's Mungrup Stud, Waratah's Secret has won seven of his 11 starts (with three seconds) and has earned over $320,000.

As a three-year-old he won two listed events - the Belgravia Stakes and Fairetha Stakes - and established himself as one of the most exciting gallopers in the country.

The high class short course performer is one of three winners producing by the twice raced Zabeel mare Blissfully.

Blissfully, who finished down the track in two Queensland starts, is a half sister to the multiple Flemington stakes winner Perfect Evening.

Waratah's Secret sire Oratorio, a winner of the CS Hayes Stakes and Magic Millions Adelaide 2YO Classic for Lee Freedman, has made a huge impact so far with his progeny in Western Australia.

His stakes performers include Motion Pictures, Clueless Angel, Gold Rocks, Dawinner and Wizards Point.

Waratah's Secret was the second leg of a winning double following the success of his three-year-old daughter Hot Tamale earlier in the day.