Arguably in need of the run when a first-up third, Joe Pride’s consistent sprinter King’s Secret (Shalaa) appeared a class above his rivals on Saturday with black type races now on the horizon for the half-brother to $12.8m earner Private Eye.
Second favourite Zealously, who had finished third in the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint two starts back behind the Ray Magnerio, jumped away swiftly from gate one, going forward to lead.
With Rey Magnerio having since ventured to Western Australia to finish third in the $1.5m Group 1 WATC Winterbottom Stakes before winning the $1.5m Group 3 WATC Gold Rush, the Peter Snowden trained speedster looked to control the race from the start while King’s Secret under Zac Lloyd was able to sit right on his back in third on the rail.
Bjorn Baker’s Imperial Force kept Zealously company, sitting to his outside ensuring the second favourite didn’t get all the favours, which ultimately set it up beautifully for King’s Secret.
As the field charged round the home bend, Lloyd needed an out, and once he came across the heels of the leading duo rather than waiting for a gap to appear, King’s Secret was full of running as he chased down Zealously, taking the lead with about 150m to run.
Pulling clear under hands and heels riding, King’s Secret scored by the best part of a length and three quarters, taking his record to five wins and four placed efforts from just ten starts with earnings of $464,575.
In an interesting comparison, Private Eye won seven of his first ten starts, and while King’s Secret has only managed five of his ten, Pride said there are similarities between the half-brothers.
“He looks exactly the same as him,” Pride said.
“Those dolls that go inside each other (Matryoshka dolls), he's the miniature one. He's tiny compared to Private Eye, but you've got to say, at the same point in their careers this horse is probably going just as well as him.
“He's got a big shadow to live in there, but let's not worry about that. In his own right, he is a very nice horse.”
With the likelihood that King’s Secret will be stepped up to black type racing in the near future, Pride felt Saturday’s run was a perfect test for his gelding, who passed with flying colours.
“He was here with a point to prove today that he was hopefully going to graduate to stakes company and based on what I saw today and what I've seen in the past, I don't think there is any doubt about that,” Pride said.
“He's got speed to put himself into a race. He's got acceleration. I'm not sure he's Private Eye, but he's a good brother.”
Just like Private Eye, who was purchased by Jamie Walter’s Proven Thoroughbreds and trainer Joe Pride, King’s Secret was also snapped up by the duo, parting ways with $100,000 to secure the Goodwood Farm consigned yearling at the 2023 Inglis Easter yearling sale.
King’s Secret is the fifth winner from five to the races out of the Shamardal mare Confidential Queen, who Goodwood Farm’s Kerrie Tibbey 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 yearling from Confidential Queen, a filly from the first crop of Darley’s Champion Anamoe (Street Boss) who will be offered at the 2026 Inglis Easter yearling sale as part of an exciting draft from Goodwood Farm which will also include the full sister to Group 1 Golden Slipper winner Fireburn.
Tibby describes the Easter bound filly as being "very typical of the types Confidential Queen produces."
"She is light on her feet with a great hind quarters, and like her half relations she is unlikely to be a 2yo type."
Confidential Queen went back to Anaome on the strength of the filly produced, and this season she foaled another filly by the nine-time Group 1 winner.
Experiencing a strong run at present, King’s Secret is one of 47 Australian winners this season for Shalaa who is also represented by Bjorn Baker’s speedy Swordplay who has now won three of her five starts and is aiming to securing a slot for the upcoming $3m Magic Millions Sunlight Classic.
Standing this season at Victoria’s Woodside Park Stud at a fee of $19,800 (inc. GST), the son of Invincible Spirit is the sire of 21 stakes winners highlighted locally by Group 1 MVRC AJ Moir Stakes winner Mornington Glory.
