Mick Price has some thinking to do with talented filly Secret Agenda.
Does he take on Chautauqua in the Group One Newmarket Handicap or does he run the filly against her own age in a Listed race at Flemington on Saturday.
Although the filly has 50kg compared to Chautauqua’s 58, her trainer thinks that advantage may not be enough.
“I don’t think she can beat Chautauqua with 50 kilos and him 58,” Price said.
“I don’t think that’s enough over 1200 metres and I think weight matters more as the distances go up.
“He looks too good, but it is a Newmarket.”
Price will study the weights for the MSS Security Sprint (1100m) to see how she compares to the other three-year-olds.
The winner of three of her seven starts, Secret Agenda ran second as favourite in the Group Three Typhoon Tracy Stakes at Moonee Valley on February 26.
The filly was fourth emergency for the Group One Oakleigh Plate the following day and would have gained a start had Price elected to wait.
“I had to make a call on what to run her in,” Price said.
“She only got a run late Friday afternoon after we had committed to Moonee Valley.”
Price doesn’t expect the Newmarket to be as hectic as the Oakleigh Plate with maybe a field of 13 and he knows the filly has a liking for the straight course.
And any rain would enhance her claims, although high temperatures are forecast for the week.
Price said he would discuss the options with the filly’s owners, Blueblood Thoroughbreds but added perhaps he best chances for a Group One win could lie in the two upcoming Group One sprints in Adelaide, the Goodwood and the Robert Sangster.
