The very first stakes-winner for his sire St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) when winning a Listed race in Ireland last year, progressive colt Thesecretadversary resumed overnight with a big win in the Group III Ballylinch Stud Red Rocks Stakes (7f) at Leopardstown.
Last seen running fifth in the Group I Summer Stakes at Woodbine last September, Thesecretavdersary was primed to run well against 10 rivals.
Trained by Fozzy Stack and ridden by Seamie Heffernan, Thesecretadversary chimed in with a big finish and after striking the front with a furlong to run he opened up to win by two and a half lengths.
A big flashy chestnut with prominent white markings, Thesecretadversary has been super consistent with two wins and three placings from six starts and looks as though a mile and further will be just to his liking with a myriad of exciting options on the table.
“He was a bit unlucky in Canada last time. He's in everything so we'll see where we go. He stays well. He's been working well,” said Fozzy Stack.
“He ran a good race at Ascot last year and won well at Tipperary, where he beat the horse who was second in the Middle Park [Brussels], so it was a fair bit of form.
“He's in every Guineas bar the Italian, and I entered him in a $1 million race in the US the same day as the English Guineas, so we'll talk to the owners.”
Bred and raced by Coolmore in partnership with Cayton Park Stud, Thesecretadversary is the first winner from stakes-winning Gleneagles mare Too Soon to Panic, a daughter of Group III winner Scream Blue Murder with his next two dams Holly Blue and Nettle also stakes-winners.
Thesecretadversary is the first stakes-winner of the new season in Europe for Coolmore shuttler St Mark’s Basilica, whose oldest Australian progeny are two year-olds and include stakes-winner Aristopolos.
