Image: Bradley Photos
Private Eye’s younger half-brother King’s Secret achieves first success at Stakes in the feature film Sydney
Joe Pride does not expect King’s Secret to match the extraordinary feats of his superstar half-brother Private Eye, but the Warwick Farm trainer is confident the gelding’s breakthrough in Thursday’s Listed Canterbury Sprint will not be the last time he is in company.
The lightly flown four-year-old, a son of Shalaa out of Confidential Queen, recorded his first black-type win when he defeated The Instructor in the $200,000 sprint at Canterbury. It was his sixth win in just eleven starts and took his prize money to $573,575 – still a far cry from Private Eye’s $12 million-plus haul, but Pride believes the best is still ahead.
“He has done a lot in these early stages of his career, but there is much more to come,” Pride said.
“Who knows, in 12 months’ time he will go to the same level (of racing) as his brother, not that I’m saying he’ll be as good as him.”
King’s Secret is now enjoying a short break, with Pride charting a potential path towards group races such as the Maurice McCarten Stakes, Star Kingdom Stakes and Hall Mark Stakes.
If his performance in the Canterbury Sprint is any indication, he will be competitive wherever he goes. The $3.80 second favorite was close to the pace and looked under pressure as the instructor chased him in the 400m, but he dug in strongly, passing in the 200m to score by a neck. Barber finished a further 1¾ lengths further in third.
Andrew Adkins, on board for all but one of the gelding’s victories, praised the horse’s determination.
“He’s just an absolute winner. He tries so hard, he gives it his all and he performs really well,” Adkins said.
“That’s not really how I wanted to ride him today, so close, but with the light weight and the favorite – I didn’t want to give him too much of a start here – I wanted him to be strong and he was.”
*Existing customers only. 2nd race bet. Excl SA & WA. T’s & C’s apply. Responsible gambling.
Think. Is this a bet you really want to place?
Set a deposit limit.
#Kings #Secret #successful #Stakes #test #horse #racing