News

Vasil reveals a big secret - team can take on the world

15th Nov 2009

Sydney Morning Herald - Sunday, 15 November 2009

TRAINER Tony Vasil wants to take Kevin Heffernan Stakes winner Lucky Secret overseas, with New Zealand, Dubai and England his favoured options.

The Rubiton six-year-old made it 14 wins from 23 starts in the 1300m weight-for-age listed race at Sandown yesterday.

Having his first start beyond 1200m, Lucky Secret ($2.20 fav) travelled well in front for Nash Rawiller, who waited for as long as he could before going for home.

The gelding held out Posadas ($11), which was runner-up to Captain Bax in last year's Heffernan, by three-quarters of a length with Diplomatic Force ($15) 1¾ lengths away third.

Vasil said the options for Lucky Secret included the $NZ1 million Telegraph Stakes in New Zealand, the sprint in Dubai and the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.

But he has firmly ruled out Hong Kong as an option for the prolific winner.

''Not that it's not hot here today but it can be very humid up there, very polluted - he's bled once and I'd hate to go there and watch it go pear shaped,'' Vasil said.

Vasil is also reluctant to take the classy sprinter to Western Australia, as he fears the tracks could be too hard for him over the summer.

''For his age he's only lightly raced and that's been for a purpose, trying to keep him sound as we can handpick his races, that's why his win ratio is so good,'' the Caulfield trainer said.

Jockey Nash Rawiller completed a double on Lucky Secret having won on the Brian Mayfield-Smith-trained Greatwall Of China in the Rokk Ebony Hcp (1300m).

''He's just an outstanding horse,'' Rawiller said of Lucky Secret. ''I've ridden a lot better but he just gives everything and Tony has placed him very well.

''Mark Zahra [Posadas] was stalking us and I really didn't want him to take me on until he did and when he did he [Lucky Secret] went for 150 metres. He was very tired on the line but he was very gallant.''

Earlier, Secession earned a Blue Diamond Stakes preparation with his impressive win on debut in the Triple M's Hot Breakfast Stakes at Sandown.

Trainer Peter Snowden said the Lonhro colt had a very good future after taking out the 1000m listed race yesterday.

''He's a horse who has got talent, he's still very immature but he has got a lot of raw ability and that will take him a long way,'' Snowden said.

Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, Secession ($10) settled seventh but sprinted quickly in the straight to score by 1½ lengths from Shaaheq ($3.50), with Sublime Girl ($8.50) 2¼ lengths away third.

''He's still very gangly and gawky but he's earned $60,000 prizemoney now which will take him a long way, if he's good enough, for a Blue Diamond preparation,'' Snowden said.

One of 15 two-year-olds Snowden now has in his Flemington stables, Secession has been in Melbourne for three months but will now go for a break.

''He's still a bit green but he did trial really well a few weeks ago at Flemington,'' Snowden said. ''I was only going to give him a trial and tip him out and we decided to give him a run.''

Snowden said Secession was more genuine than his full brother, stablemate Purdey, which was placed in group 2 and group 3 races as a two-year-old last season but is yet to win in seven starts.

''Purdey has been disappointing,'' the trainer said. ''This horse has shown more application in his work.''

The Richard Jolly-trained Stirling Grove, a drifter in the betting from $1.90 to start $2.25 favourite, led but weakened to finish sixth of the 11 runners.

The Mossman gelding, a nine-length winner on debut at Morphettville on October 3, was scratched from last Saturday's Maribyrnong Stakes at Flemington after taking skin off a stifle in a barrier mishap.