Denman's Secret Trail Opens Stakes account

Mark Smith - Saturday May 19

Peter and Paul Snowden's well-travelled 5yo mare Secret Trail scored a career highlight win in Saturday's Bright Shadow Quality (1200m) at Doomben.

In her last five starts, the daughter of Denman has started at Randwick, the Gold Coast, Rosehill, Caulfield and Doomben.

Carrying the colours of Triple Crown Syndications, Secret Trail held tough for Ron Stewart to defeat Crystal Fountain (Stravinsky) by a short-neck with O'Rachael (Northern Meteor) one and a quarter length back in third.

Advertisement

It advances the record of Secret Trail to 5 wins, 3 seconds and 3 thirds from 24 starts with earnings of $503,871.


"She's limited but she runs to her best and tries so hard," Peter Snowden told AAP.

"Ronnie gave her a perfect ride. He's ridden all around the world and I was pleased to have him aboard today because he has plenty of talent."

"There's an old saying, the harder you try the more luck you get and to her credit she always runs well but often draws bad gates or gets on the wrong part of the track.

"You need everything to go right with these types of horses and today she got a gun run and Ronnie rode her to her strengths because she's only got a short, sharp sprint."

Bred by Asco International, Secret Trail was consigned to the 2014 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Element Hill where she was knocked down to Champion Thoroughbreds for $120,000.

She is the first foal of the winning Secret Savings mare Trail Of Secrets who is a half-sister to Group 1 ARC Railway Handicap winner Gold Trail (Hussonet).

Trail Of Secrets was sold by Elements Hill to Paul Willetts Bloodstock for $150,000 at the 2015 National Broodmare sale when carrying a filly by Pierro.

Her yearling filly by Unencumbered was sold for $72,000 at this year's Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

After missing to Unencumbered in 2016, Trail Of Secrets was covered by Exceed And Excel last spring.

Secret Trail becomes the ninth stakes-winner for Darley Stud's Denman who will stand in 2018 at a fee of $8,800.

Advertisment
More Reading...
War Machine Wins $3million G1 Stradbroke for Lindsay Park
With Lindsay Park's much loved stable star Mr Brightside set to turn eight this year, the time is ripe for a new star to emerge for the stable and it looks like being another Kiwi bred in the shape of Harry Angel (IRE) gelding War Machine.    
Consecutive Winter Cup Wins For Sir Lucan (IRE)
Although it’s been a while between wins for Camelot stayer Sir Lucan (IRE), the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained 7yo returned to the scene of his most recent success some 12 months prior to the day, recording consecutive victories in the $200,000 Listed ATC Winter Cup (2400m) at Rosehill.
G1 Tiara Next for Flying Zoustar Mare Floozie
Bred and raced initially by Dorrington Farm’s Robert Crabtree, Zoustar mare Floozie changed hands last year and runs now for Yarraman Park, who sent her to Queensland to be trained by Tony Gollan and that decision is reaping impressive rewards.
Sires With Winners - Saturday June 14
Here is the full list of 104 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Unbeaten So You Think 3YO Wins Raconteur Stakes
The So You Think's are absolutely flying with no less than 33 winners in the past 30 days highlighted by his daughter You Wahng’s emphatic victory in the G1 Queensland Oaks and now another exciting three year old has appeared!
Hong Kong Double for Brutal
With Hong Kong races on Saturday this week and so much going on in Brisbane it was easy to miss the action at Sha Tin with a winning double for young sire Brutal worth noting as it featured a two year-old that has now had two starts for two wins and broke 56 seconds for 1000m!
Sires With Winners - Sunday June 15
Here is the full list of 60 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sunshine Coast Success For Sister to Group 1 Winner
Racing at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday saw the Annabel and Rob Archibald trained For Better (Better Than Ready), a full sister to the stable’s Group 1 winner Port Lockroy break her maiden at just her third start for the stable.
Riverbank Going to Extremes
There’s an old saying about keeping yourself in the best of company and Victoria’s Riverbank Farm adheres to it better than most.
2023 Queensland Derby Hero Kovalica Triumphs in Q22 Thriller
Kovalica made a welcome return to winning form when he prevailed in a pulsating three-horse finish to the A$1.2 million Gr.2 HKJC World Pool Q22 (2200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.