A mare who became the first of Greg Hickman’s horses to break the $1 million prizemoney barrier continues to have an impact on his stable in the form of her daughter, Private Legacy.
Private Secretary was placed in four stakes races but the bulk of her career earnings stemmed from her Magic Millions performances, significantly her victory in the 2017 MM Fillies and Mares.
It was a healthy achievement for a $32,000 yearling buy and Hickman continues to reap the rewards through Private Legacy, who is easily the best of the deceased broodmare’s three foals to race.
“I trained her mother, Private Secretary. She was my first $1 million winner,” Hickman said.
“I didn’t pay a lot for Private Secretary. She won her maiden at Nowra and before that she’d had to go out for twelve months with a tendon issue, but she came back and went bang, bang, bang.”
Private Legacy took a little longer to hit her stride, breaking her maiden at her ninth start.
Just three runs later, she almost claimed a Group 1 when she was nudged out by Vibrant Sun in the 2024 Australasian Oaks (2000m).
Hickman got his consolation prize earlier this month when he took the four-year-old back to Adelaide for her first stakes win and on Saturday she returns to Sydney chasing her second in the Listed Lord Mayors Cup (2000m) at Rosehill.
“It was the right race and a good track last start,” Hickman said.
“I just hope the track keeps drying out for this weekend.
“She has done well. We haven’t had to do a lot with her. She had a good gallop on Saturday, just going through her paces and we’ve kept her ticking over since then.”
Private Legacy will be ridden by Queensland apprentice Jace Mcmurray, who is currently on loan to Randwick trainer Michael Freedman.
While he has only been in Sydney for a few weeks, McMurray is already making inroads and celebrated his first metropolitan double at Canterbury on Wednesday.
“I’m putting a bit of faith in the kid, Jace McMurray,” Hickman said.
“I have seen him on tv a few times and thought he was a very progressive kid.”
Private Legacy is likely to have another run or two in Sydney with her long-range goal a trip to the Gold Coast for next year’s Magic Millions carnival.
