| In Secret confirmed her place as the country’s leading short course three-year-old with a scintillating win in today’s $2 million Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington. |
| After overcoming early and mid race interference, the outstanding daughter of I Am Invincible swept upon the leaders approaching the famous clock tower before streaking clear for the easiest of two length wins. Trainer James Cummings holds the filly in the highest of regards and said she came under serious consideration for the Godolphin slot in the recent The Everest. “It’s a good feeling winning that race. The Coolmore Stud Stakes has become the Golden Slipper of the Spring Carnival for three-year-olds.” “I’ve had horses that have won Golden Roses before and you dream about winning a Coolmore because you have to go to the next level to go to Derby Day and perform on the big stage over six furlongs and at set weights against the best.” “About four or five weeks before The Everest I was asked what horse would I recommend for The Everest. They said, if it’s not going to be Anamoe, who is it going to be?” “I said well I think it is going to be one of our best horses on the farm. They asked who was I talking about?” “I said, this horse In Secret is one of the best horses we’ve got out there and she could run a race. You watch that race today and watch what she did to Jacquinot there, you tell me that she wouldn’t have given them a scare.” “Regardless of that, we’ve won the Coolmore and we kept her on ice for this race. She’s probably going to be The Everest favourite for next year.” Cummings was particularly pleased with how the filly responded after suffering interference during a good deal of the race. “She got knocked down in the barriers, she got knocked down soon after and she still had a horse laying on her at the 450 (metres), this horse is a machine and it was a pleasure to watch.” “She was five weeks off from the Golden Rose, she’s just a weapon, she put them away, drawing away on the line. You don’t see that often in the Coolmore.” “We bided our time with In Secret and the five weeks off hasn’t fazed her,” Cummings added. Winning rider James McDonald said he was supremely confident leading into the Coolmore Stud Stakes with In Secret. “I rode her up the straight in a trial and she gave me the best feel. I said to James, clearly she is tailor made for the straight and I reckon we will see something special.” “She was ready to launch on Friday when she trialed, I had that much in hand it wasn’t funny. She loved the straight, I thought just jot her down for the Coolmore.” “She got a bit fractious (in the gates). She popped in the air and I thought ‘God damn’ but she mustered really quickly and she put herself into a good spot.” “She was just on song really, she was ready to go, she jumped in the air but she’s a good filly.” “I knew my job, I had to muster to get a spot pretty quickly instead of gliding into that spot, it was very important to get that spot for my winning chances, as it turned out she won by a margin.” “I’ve been confident with her but (was) a bit hesitant how the track was going to play. She just put them to the sword. She’s a dominant filly.” In Secret was a $900,000 purchase for Godolphin at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Segenhoe Stud. The star filly was bred by Segenhoe in partnership with Michael Christian’s Saconi Thoroughbreds and is from the Melbourne and Sydney group winner Eloping. Eloping, a daughter of globetrotting sprinter Choisir, won seven races and over $1.2 million beforing retiring to stud. Like In Secret, Eloping was sold at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale. As well as In Secret she is the dam of the winner and Sydney placegetter King of Hearts. Eloping is from the top producer Runaway Jesse – who is also the dam of ill fated Blue Diamond Prelude winner Of the Brave and group performer Jesse’s Girl. Winner: In Secret Breeding: I Am Invincible-Eloping (Choisir) Breeder: Segenhoe Thoroughbreds Australia, Saconi Thoroughbreds (M Christian) Race: VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes G1 (1200m) Sold for: $900,000 Sale: 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale Vendor: Segenhoe Stud (As Agent) Buyer: Godolphin Earnings: $1,710,850 Owners: Godolphin Trainer: James Cummings (Flemington) |
