A narrow second in the G1 SAJC Australasian Oaks three years back, the Greg Hickman trained The Autumn Sun mare Private Secretary has built a strong affinity with the Morphettville carnival, recording success in the Listed SAJC Centaurea Stakes (2033m) for the last two years.
Finishing down the track in the Listed Queen of the South Stakes last start (as she had down 12 months prior), the step up in trip surely suited the 5yo mare.
After jumping from gate 12 in the 13-horse field, jockey Ben Melham took the mare forward to try and secure a position, but it wasn’t to be as she drifted back to sixth, racing wide with 200/1 outsider Sharma Princess (NZ) going forward to lead.
Starting her run with 800m to run, Melham came around the field and on the home turn was in second position on the outside of Anthony and Sam Freedman’s Brave Miss who was showing plenty of fight.
As the leading duo looked as if they would fight it out, Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray's last start G1 Australaian Oaks runner up Mating Call was coming down the outside as the trio pulled clear to battle it out.
With the line reached, it was Private Legacy who had her head down, defeating Mating Call by a nose with Brave Miss a short half head back in third along the inside.
Part owner Michael Woodlands was speaking on behalf of the stable
“Greg couldn't be here today but he's done an amazing job with this horse and a lot of us owned her mum, Private Secretary, who won up at the Magic Millions,” said Woodlands.
“So, just very happy. It's her last race today before she goes to the sales. So, fairytale finish… the sale is in a few weeks, so we'll see how we go."
Having ridden the mare to success in the race last year, Ben Melham was back in the saddle.
“Gregory, he's a character, and he rang me a while ago and he said, 'I've got that mare going for the 2000 (metre race)’ and I couldn't ride her the other day.
“I thought she still ran a credible race. A little bit more given the ground that she would have preferred. From an awkward draw, I just didn't see enough tempo in the race to go back to her normal pattern. I was happy to chance the arm and just have her a bit handy to the speed.
“I wasn't able to get in, but it wasn't a bad three deep. I was sort of happy all the way and always felt as though I'd had a kick in the locker, and I felt she was very tenacious when they challenged her late.
“We had two of the better chances in the market vying for the lead up the straight with us and it could have gone either way.
I"'ve ridden Mating Call, she's a really nice filly, still progressive, and obviously the Freedy horse (Brave Miss) is very honest as well. So this mare probably had the best credentials in the race. Obviously, she's been out of form and good to see her return to form today."
Taking her record to three wins and five placed efforts from 30 starts, with earnings of $481,025, the mare will be offered at the upcoming Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale as Lot 435 as part of the Milangall Park draft.
Initially sold for $90,000 at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale when purchased by her trainer Greg Hckman from the draft of Arrowfielf Stud, Private Legacy is the third and final foal of the prodigiously talented Husson (ARG) mare Private Secretary, who Hickman also trained, and many of her owners have an interest in Private Legacy.
One of 11 stakes winners for The Autumn Sun whose progeny are headed by five individual G1 winners highlighted by outstanding Autumn Glow, the Arrowfield Stud based son of Champion Sire Redoute’s Choice has had a price hike for the upcoming season, set to stand at a fee of $137,500 (inc. GST).
