Stylish Secret All Courage in Victoria Derby Preview

Mark Smith - Sunday September 22

Pint-sized gelding Stylish Secret may continue on a path to the Victoria Derby following a courageous victory in Sunday's Penfolds Victoria Derby Preview (1800m) at Flemington.

Stylish Secret a little tough nut (image Racing Victoria)

Ridden by Luke Noen for Mick Nolan, Stylish Secret settled near the tail of the field.

With the field spread across the track at the 300m, it was the tailenders that dominated the finish, with the son of Sweet Orange (USA) clinging to a long neck win over the Dundeel colt Kingofwallstreet with another son of Dundeel, Politely Dun, back in third.

Advertisement

Stylish Secret broke his maiden at his third start over 1500m at Sandown on August 21 before finishing second to Evaporate at Moonee Valley on September 7.

"I was going to spell him after The Valley, but he nearly kicked my head off in the paddock. I won't make any plans other than to have a beer after that," Nolan told Racing.com.

"He was going to be put through the Ready To Run Sale but could not find anyone to prepare him, so I said I would buy him. We paid $30,000; by the time he got here with all the extras, it was about forty. When he walked off the truck, he was about two feet tall, and I thought, what have I bought here? The owner said we'd come down and have a look at him, and I said not to rush.

Nolan and Nolen (image Racing Victoria)

"I thought that day we would be going to the picnics, not Flemington, but in his defence, he is the toughest and smartest little horse I have had anything to do with.

"This is his first preparation and his fifth run. It's amazing what he's done.

"Jeffrey Hogg is in him, who used to play for Richmond, and I told him early days that he reminded me of Tom Hafey, he is so tough. He's 15.2 hands and 420 kilos. He's not the best horse in Australia, but he's the toughest.

Happy days (image Racing Victoria)

A son of War Front's Hong Kong Classic Mile winner Sweet Orange (USA), Stylish Secret was purchased originally by respected journalist, broadcaster and author Helen Thomas for just $2300 on Gavelhouse and she remains in his ownership. She was guided into purchasing him as a weanling by her long-time friend, the late racing analyst Deane Lester.

He is the second winner for the winning Savabeel mare Scarlet's Secret, who was purchased by the Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Industry for $65,000 out of the Wentwood Grange draft at the 2018 NZB Karaka May Sale.

 Leanach Lodge consigned a Circus Maximus (IRE) colt out of Scarlet's Secret to the Karaka Yearling Sale, where he failed to make his $30,000 reserve.

A daughter of the Listed winner, Scarlet Vanhara, Scarlet's Secret visited Circus Maximus (IRE) again last spring. 

Advertisment

Race Result - Penfolds Victoria Derby Preview 1800m

Flemington Track: Good(3) Time: 1:49.64
1
Stylish Secret
- 3g Sweet Orange (USA) x Scarlet's Secret (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: Mick Nolan Rdr: L Nolen 57
2
0.4
Kingofwallstreet
- 3c Dundeel (NZ) x Our Girl Raquie (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Matthew Cumani Rdr: Declan Bates 56
MM Adelaide Yearling Sale $120,000
Seller: Rathmore Lodge, Rockleigh, SA (As Agent)
Buyer: Cumani Racing Pty Ltd/McKeever Bloodstock
3
0.7
Politely Dun
- 3g Dundeel (NZ) x Politeness (AUS) (Street Sense (USA))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: B Shinn 56
MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale $150,000
Seller: Arrowfield Stud, Scone, NSW (As Agent)
Buyer: Danny O'Brien Racing
4
2
Giddy Up Warrior
- 3g Saxon Warrior (JPN) x Persian Star (AUS) (Shot Of Thunder (AUS))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: M Zahra 57
5
2
Lavalier
- 3c Microphone (AUS) x Accessories (GB) (Singspiel (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Jamie Kah 56
6
2.1
Peru
- 3g Brazen Beau (AUS) x Salamati (GER) (Dubawi (IRE))
Tnr: Michael Moroney & Glen Thompson Rdr: Craig Williams 56
7
3.1
Captain Hilfiger
- 3g Proisir (AUS) x Royal Era (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: Peter Gelagotis Rdr: Ben Allen 56
8
4.8
Fulmen Filou
- 3g Fiorente (IRE) x L'inquisitor (AUS) (Blackfriars (AUS))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: Thomas Stockdale 56
9
5.3
Autumnheat
- 3g Too Darn Hot (GB) x Autumn (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Matthew Cumani Rdr: E J Walsh 56
10
6.3
King's Coronation
- 3c Strasbourg (AUS) x Autumn Zest (AUS) (King's Best (USA))
Tnr: D C Harrison Rdr: J Bowditch 56
11
6.8
Lario
- 3g Epaulette (AUS) x Lake Como (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: H Coffey 56
12
7.5
Noire Emperor
- 3g Written Tycoon (AUS) x Noire (AUS) (Foxwedge (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Jye McNeil 56
13
16.5
Recovery Road
- 3c Grunt (NZ) x Red Lily (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Ethan Brown 56
More Reading...
Verry Exciting Weekend Looms
New Zealand horseman Nicholas Bishara will cross the Tasman this weekend to watch his filly Belle Detelle, a three-quarter sister to his ill-fated 11-time Group One Verry Elleegant, contest the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m).
Sires With Winners - Wednesday May 28
Here is the full list of 44 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Highview Stud Announce 2025 Fees
With a host of quality performers from its proven lineup – Divine Prophet, Santos and Wrote – over the past 12 months, along with plenty of excitement about the pending arrival of Mr Mozart’s first foals, New Zealand’s Highview Stud has announced stallion fees for 2025.
Waikato Stud to Cheer Derby Runners
Waikato Stud will have strength in numbers to add to its success rate in the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) and boost its seasonal tally at the top level.
Newhaven Park Confirm 2025 Fees
One week after Newhaven Park bred, raised and sold Cool Archie recorded his second successive juvenile stakes race victory in the Group 2 Spirit of Boom Classic at Doomben, Newhaven Park stud principal John Kelly has confirmed the 2025 service fees for the first-crop 2-year-old’s sire Cool Aza Beel (NZ), as well as the farm’s two associate stallions Xtravagant (NZ) and Mo’Unga&nb
Juvenile Trial Watch - Rosehill
Trials this morning at Rosehill were run on a heavy 9 so horses were well held together and not asked for too much, but there were still a couple of intriguing unraced heat winners by Extreme Choice and Justify (USA), plus we got another look at the $1.4million Wootton Bassett (GB) colt from Sunlight.
The Boss Lady Bounces Back in G3 Belmont Sprint
Tough Street Boss (USA) mare The Boss Lady lived up to her name with a hard fought win in the G3 Belmont Sprint yesterday.
Little Avondale’s Weanlings Follow Successful Footsteps
Graduates of Little Avondale Stud’s drafts at the NZB National Weanling Sale have a proud record of racetrack success, and stud principal Sam Williams believes his class of 2025 compares favourably with previous years.
Sires Pack Profitable Punch at Weanling Sale
There are many members of New Zealand’s stallion ranks whose progenies racetrack results far exceed their service fee.  Next month’s NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka is an ideal opportunity for traders and end users to secure the progeny of these creditable sires.
King’s Legacy Filly Wins by Three
The Lindsay Park team produced an impressive juvenile winner at Pakenham on Thursday evening with King’s Legacy filly Bella Pietra winning as she pleased.