Flashbacks to In Secret’s luckless first-up defeat in the spring, combined with a healthy respect for her opposition, means James Cummings is taking nothing for granted ahead of the brilliant filly’s Light Fingers Stakes return.
Even after the scratching of Zougotcha due to an elevated temperature, the Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) boasts four Group 1 winners, three Group 1 placegetters, a trio of Listed performers and two last-start victors.
“They’re going to be no easybeats,” Cummings said.
“There are up-and-coming horses there, there are established Group One winners already.
“Admittedly Zougotcha has come out with a high temperature but that has not flattened the race to such an extent that you think In Secret is just going to turn up and win.”
The winner of the Coolmore Stud Stakes in the spring, In Secret has only been beaten twice in six starts and one of those was first-up last preparation when she was hemmed in behind a wall of horses before flashing home for second in the Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.
Despite his confidence in the three-year-old’s talent, that race is still indelibly printed in Cummings’ mind.
“She didn’t get the best of luck first-up over six furlongs at Randwick last prep in the Silver Shadow, she was beaten over a length by Zougotcha, but it took a long time for her to get into the clear,” he said.
“There are plenty of ways to lose a horse race and you want things to go right for her in the run to give her her best chance first-up.”
While Cummings is wary, punters have no such concerns and In Secret is set to start in the red.
Outside of the favourite, the strongest early support has been for Furious Stakes winner North Star Lass ($11-$7.50) and the untapped Sunshine In Paris ($13 into $6.50).
Stakes placed in Brisbane two starts ago, Sunshine In Paris has shown a dazzling turn of foot in lesser grade and trainer Annabel Neasham is keen to see how she measures up against the top fillies.
“She has been running home in good time off slow tempos and if she can do that here on Saturday, she is one to look out for,” Neasham’s racing manager Rob Archibald said.
“First time at this level so we’ll find out where she’s up to, but every indication is she is up to these.”
