Promising filly Secret Liaison has provided a belated boost for trainers Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra with a stunning last-to-first win at Sandown.
Jockey Michael Rodd was in awe of the three-year-old’s performance after giving her little chance midrace of winning Saturday’s Listed Twilight Glow Stakes (1400m).
Secret Liason winning the Twilight Glow Stakes at Sandown - photo by Race Horse Photos Australia
Railing through the field, she powered home off a moderate race tempo to score a half-head victory over the Mark Kavanagh-trained Miss Stellabelle and Shopaholic, trained by Danny O’Brien.
Ellerton welcomed the win after the stable failed to recover this spring from the terrible loss of Golden Slipper Stakes winner Crystal Lily on September 22.
“Things have been pretty pear-shaped since the mare died,” Ellerton said.
“A few things have gone wrong, so I guess this is some consolation.”
The Ellerton-Zahra stable blamed jockey error when Luke Nolen mistimed his run and went early on Secret Liaison last start when fifth in the Lexus Hybrid Plate (1400m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day.
Ellerton feared the race had got away from her in different circumstances on Saturday when she was back last on the rail with seemingly nowhere to go at the 600 metres.
“I was in a bad position” Rodd said.
“They kept backing off up front and when they sprinted I didn’t have enough horse to go out so I stuck to the inside.”
He said Secret Liaison showed unexpected acceleration when space opened up in front of her and he merely went along for the ride.
“Her sectionals are going to be incredible I reckon” Rodd said.
“When they came down that hill she was going that fast I didn’t have to do anything.
“I was just going along with her and she just kept running and running.”
Rodd only drew the whip in the closing stages as the uphill run started to take its toll and lifted her over the line to win in a photo-finish.
Secret Liaison has won two of her seven starts and both wins were this campaign after failing to be placed at her first three runs in April and May.
“She has gone from a maiden to stakeswinner this campaign so she will probably have a break now,” Ellerton said.
AAP TURF
