News

Early Admiration nets a top Secret

2nd Oct 2010

A shrewd weanling purchase netted Milburn Creek Thoroughbreds a Group 1 victory this afternoon, with Secret Admirer producing a barnstorming finish to land the Flight Stakes (1600m).

The Grahame Begg trained filly had only faced the starter three times prior to today and after finishing off strongly in last week’s Reginald Allen, relished the step up to 1600m in the Group 1 feature.

SECRET ADMIRER (3f Dubawi-Secret Illusion, by Secret Savings) was originally offered for sale by Rothwell Park at the 2008 Inglis Australian Weanling & Breeding Stock Sale, where she was part of the New Season Sire Showcase.

She was knocked down to John Freyer for $38,000 and re-offered by Milburn Creek at the 2009 Inglis Classic Sale, but when bidding fell short of her reserve, the decision was made by John Muir to retain the filly to race.

Secret Admirer is a daughter of Dubai Millennium’s Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas winner Dubawi and becomes his 20th stakes winner.

Her dam Secret Illusion is a half-sister to Donegal Mist, winner of the Group 1 Metropolitan on this same day 20 years ago.

Begg says he will resist the temptation to press on further into the spring and instead line up more classic races next year.

"She'll go to the paddock now for a well-deserved break and come back in the autumn bigger and better," Begg said.

"This is a really good filly because all she does is hit the line hard. She's had a fabulous week at home and gave us the indication we were in the right place today."

Secret Admirer’s Group 1 win sat in the middle of new wins for two of Inglis’ most popular flagbearers over the past 24 hours.

At Randwick, HOT DANISH ($32,000 2005 Scone, 7m Nothin’ Leica Dane-Hot ‘N’ Breezy) added another feature win to her outstanding record when drawing on reserves of courage to land the Group 2 Shorts.

It was the 16th win in 27 starts for the mare, whose earnings now top $2.15million. Trainer Les Bridge is now plotting another trip south to Melbourne.

In Hong Kong, SACRED KINGDOM ($200,000 2005 Premier, 7g Encosta De Lago-Courtroom Sweetie) made a triumphant return from a colic enforced break to win the Group 3 Sha Tin Sprint Trophy.

Despite now being in the veteran category, the champion sprinter stopped the clock in a sizzling 55.95 for the 1000m trip. This took his record to 16 wins in 24 starts for earnings beyond $A5.1million.

Inglis graduates completed a stakes treble at Randwick when LOVEMELIKEAROCK took out the Listed Angst Quality. The Anthony Cummings trained mare had only raced twice since winning last year's Group 3 Spring Stakes at Newcastle.

She was selected out of the Coolmore Stud draft by Anthony Cummings, who had earlier enjoyed success in the Listed Breeders' Plate with impressive Gooree Stud colt Smart Missile, who like Lovemelikearock, is by Fastnet Rock.

Lovemelikearock continues the great run for graduates of the inaugural Easter Session II, following the Group 1 quinella by Response and No Evidence Needed at Caulfield last month.