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.
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.
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.
"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.
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.
