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...
$1.5million for Full Brother to Beadman
Flashy chestnut colt Beadman is already a Group winner and has shown glimpses of G1 ability in his brief six start career to date and his full brother was a showstopper at Magic Millions on Wednesday when knocked down to Tom Magnier at $1.5million.
$2million Extreme Choice Colt Stars on MM Day 2
An outstanding colt by Newgate Farm's superstar sire Extreme Choice has sold for $2 million and now shares top spot on the leaderboard after a red hot second day of the 2026 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale on Wednesday.
Yulong Purchase $2million Extreme Choice Colt
Yulong have already hit the jackpot with an expensive Extreme Choice colt, purchasing Group I MRC Blue Diamond winner Devil Night at Magic Millions in 2024 for $1.4million and they upped the ante on Wednesday.
$1.2million Invincible Filly to Gai and Adrian
Champion sire I Am Invincible had the top filly in the opening session of Magic Millions on Tuesday and followed up with the same on Wednesday when his glorious filly from Key sold for $1.2million.
$850,000 Extreme Choice Filly to David Ellis
The Magic Millions is a happy hunting ground for Te Akau Racing boss David Ellis and he struck early on Wednesday for an $850,000 filly by Extreme Choice from prolific Tasmanian stakes-winner Deroche.
Milburn Creek Sell $1.5million Snitzel Colt
The first seven figure yearling to be sold at Magic Millions on Wednesday came through just after midday when the Milburn Creek consigned Snitzel colt from Embrace Me fetched $1.5million.
$800,000 Anamoe Filly Delivers Big Pinhook Win for Lime Country
The first yearlings by Australian Horse of the Year Anamoe have generated huge interest at Magic Millions and a filly from Eawase hit the target on Wednesday when selling for $800,000.
Hot Lots Day Three – Magic Millions
With Extreme Choice having seven sold through the ring so far averaging $840,000 highlighted by a sales equalling top price of $2m for Kingstar Farm’s colt, the Newgate Farm based stallion only has three to sell on Thursday, which could see Snitzel or I Am Invincible hit the lead on averages.
$1.2million Snitzel Colt to James Harron Bloodstock
When legendary sire Snitzel passed away last year it always meant his yearlings would be in hot demand at sales in 2026 and that is playing out at the Gold Coast with his third individual million dollar colt arriving late on Wednesday at Magic Millions.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday January 14
Here is the full list of 43 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.