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.

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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. 

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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
3
0.7
Politely Dun
- 3g Dundeel (NZ) x Politeness (AUS) (Street Sense (USA))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: B Shinn 56
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
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