Godolphin’s latest effort to add some external bloodlines to its thoroughbred portfolio has already reaped rewards, courtesy of In Secret’s barnstorming victory in the Listed Vinery Woodlands Stakes at Scone.
A daughter of I Am Invincible out of multiple stakes winner Eloping, In Secret cost $900,000 as a yearling as a rare sales purchase for Godolphin, which traditionally breeds and races its own stock.
However, their investment appears to be an astute one with In Secret building on her debut win at Hawkesbury to notch a valuable black-type success in Saturday’s 1100m feature.
“She has got intelligence and she has got ability and that will take her a long way in her racing career,” Godolphin’s assistant trainer Darren Beadman said.
“First time here at Scone today, she has just taken everything in her stride.
“She still had a bit of work to do at the 250 (metres) but she has got gears. She is a very promising filly.”
In Secret was a market drifter, with bookmakers happy to take her on due to her inside draw on a track that had been favouring horses finishing down the centre.
But champion jockey Hugh Bowman was able to navigate a path towards the better ground in the straight and the $3.60 favourite unleashed a sparkling finishing sprint to score by 1-1/2 lengths over Golden Queen ($41) with leader Penthouse ($17) running a cheeky race to hold third.
Bowman said he knew he was on the best horse in the race and rode her accordingly.
“She delivered the last furlong. She really sprouted wings,” Bowman said.
“She has got a bit of a class edge on this lot, and she is certainly up to better things.”
Beadman was unsure if In Secret would press on to loftier targets during the winter carnival in Brisbane, or whether head trainer James Cummings would put her away for a spring campaign.
But he said either way, her future was bright.
“I will leave that up to James and the team what they want to do with her, but she has really ticked every box this preparation,” Beadman said.
“She is going to be a lovely filly for the spring and full congratulations to the purchasing team. They put their head on the block and forked out a bit of money for her and it’s paying dividends.”
