Joe Pride started the spring intent on dodging Sydney’s top sprinters with King’s Secret, but the gelding’s two return runs have prompted a change of heart.
The five-year-old flashed home from the back when fourth to Tempted in the Concorde Stakes (1000m), and again punched above his weight when a close third behind Mazu and Joliestar in The Shorts (1100m).
Those efforts have earned him a place in Saturday’s Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) field and Pride sees no reason King’s Secret can’t be competitive again.
“The idea was to take him to Melbourne when I started the ‘prep’ thinking we might need to get out of Sydney because they’d be too good for him,” Pride said.
“The two runs have given me a little bit of confidence they’re not too good for him, and he’s made a pretty big leap from where he was last preparation.
“After the two runs, you’d say he’s among that top group of sprinters now.”
The Sydney Stakes (1200m) on the Everest undercard is the likely target for King’s Secret after the weekend.
A half-brother to Pride’s grand campaigner, Private Eye, the gelding is almost a replica of his accomplished sibling, aside from one glaring difference.
“Those little (Matryoshka) dolls that are exactly the same and fit inside one another – he’s like the littlest one and Private Eye is the biggest one,” Pride said.
“There’s about five sizes in between, but they’re identical.”
King’s Secret will be one of three Premiere Stakes runners for the stable, along with rejuvenated sprinter Mazu and Weeping Woman.
Pride is the first to admit the latter disappointed in the Sheraco Stakes (1200m) first-up, but a forecast for rain has him confident she can run much better than her $41 quote suggests.
“I can only take out of the run that she didn’t like the firm track,” he said.
“If it’s a bit of a wet track, she will be there and can bounce back.”
Godolphin mare Tempted has a stranglehold on Premiere Stakes betting as a $1.55 favourite and is the only one of the 15 runners at single-figure odds.
King’s Secret and Mazu are both rated $26 chances.
