Private Eye’s Half-Brother King’s Secret Wins Again

Dane Squance - Saturday June 28

Although he may never reach the heights of his older half-brother Private Eye, a Group 1 winner and earner of more than $12m to date, connections of King’s Secret (Shalaa) are sure to have plenty of their own fun with the 3yo gelding winning at Rosehill on Saturday.

With three wins and three placed efforts from seven starts, his only failure came last start when fifth, but a post-race veterinary examination revealed King’s Secret pulled up with the thumps, which could be attributed to his poor effort.

Third Win For Private Eye's Little Half-Brother King's Secret - Image Bradley Photos

From barrier 8 in the 11 horse field, jockey Andrew Adkins was forced to race slightly wide in the run, but this didn’t appear to pose any issues as King’s Secret was full of running rounding the home turn.

As race leader Formal (Exceed And Excel) was starting to show signs that he’d had enough, Adkins was still a few lengths off the lead but was starting to work home strongly.

Just as King’s Secret hit the lead, Ciaron Maher’s multiple stakes placed Trapeze Artist gelding Spywire was searching for a run closer to the inside, and while it did look as if he would challenge King’s Secret once he got out, the Joe Pride trained gelding held a winning margin on the line.

Bred by Kerrie Tibbie’s Goodwood Farm, King’s Secret was secured by Jamie Walter’s Proven Thoroughbreds and trainer Joe Pride for $100,000 from the Inglis Easter yearling sale, a little more than the $62,500 the duo paid for Private Eye (also bred by Goodwood Farm), at the Magic Millions Adelaide yearling sale four years earlier.

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King’s Secret is the fourth foal of Shamardal mare Confidential Queen, who Tibbie had purchased for just $13,000 from the Widden Stud draft at the 2015 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale when in foal to Star Witness.

The current 2yo out of Confidential Queen is a full-sister to King’s Secret named Confidentiality, with it being of no surprise to see that the filly is in the stable of Pride. Racing for her breeders, the filly was passed in at the 2024 Inglis Easter yearling sale after to failing to reach her $500,000 reserve.

Confidential Queen produced a filly by Darley’s Champion Anamoe (Street Boss) last spring in his first season at stud and is currently in foal to the very same stallion.

You often find that some yearling buyers love to go back to the well so to speak, and that relationship between Goodwood Farm and Pride/Walter was also at play a few weeks back with 4yo mare In Flight (Flying Artie) taking her earnings soaring past $680,000 after recording consecutive Listed victories for her connections.

Goodwood Farm Graduate - $100,000 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale Purchase King's Secret

With Shalaa set to embark on covering his third season at Victoria’s Woodside Park Stud after his transfer from interstate a few years back, the son of Invincible Spirit is the sire of 19 stakes winners, and will stand at a fee of $19,800 (inc. GST) in the spring.

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Race Result - TAB (Bm72) 1100m

Rosehill Track: Good(4) Time: 1:03.69
1
King's Secret
- 3g Shalaa (IRE) x Confidential Queen (AUS) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: A Adkins 58
Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale $100,000
Seller: Goodwood Farm, Murrurundi
Buyer: Proven Thoroughbreds / Pride Racing
2
0.4
Spywire
- 3g Trapeze Artist (AUS) x Secret Trail (AUS) (Denman (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Anna Roper 59.5
MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale $520,000
Seller: Widden Stud, Widden Valley, NSW (As Agent)
Buyer: Ciaron Maher Bloodstock/Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA)
3
1.7
Vella's Best
- 3g Headwater (AUS) x Here De Joy (AUS) (Dehere (USA))
Tnr: G P Vella Rdr: Ms W Costin 56.5
Inglis Classic Yearling Sale $40,000
Seller: Vinery Stud, Scone
Buyer: Vella Lodge
4
1.9
Berezka
- 3f Xtravagant (NZ) x Moshki (AUS) (Moshe (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Ashley Morgan 54.5
5
2.1
Livin' Thing
- 3g Yes Yes Yes (AUS) x Electric Light (AUS) (Vital Equine (IRE))
Tnr: John O'Shea & Tom Charlton Rdr: Jace McMurray 56
6
3.4
Loafer
- 3f Hellbent (AUS) x Head Over Heels (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Scott Collings Rdr: Braith Nock 53
7
3.6
Sovereign Hill
- 3g Written Tycoon (AUS) x Taraji (AUS) (Bramshaw (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: J Parr 57.5
8
4.1
Formal
- 3g Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Wedding Veil (IRE) (Dubawi (IRE))
Tnr: Nathan Doyle Rdr: Benjamin Osmond 57
9
4.2
Rantan
- 3f I Am Invincible (AUS) x Sweet Kiss (AUS) (Strada (AUS))
Tnr: R J Quinton Rdr: Reece Jones 57.5
10
4.7
Manaajem
- 3f Tassort (AUS) x Najoom (AUS) (Northern Meteor (AUS))
Tnr: Peter Snowden Rdr: Jean Van Overmeire 54
11
4.8
Apex
- 3g Exceedance (AUS) x You Da One (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: J Ford 58.5
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