Joe Pride has described King’s Secret as a miniature version of big brother Private Eye and while he isn’t declaring he will reach the same heights, he does believe the gelding is a stakes-class horse.
King’s Secret took his record to five wins from 10 starts with a comprehensive performance in Saturday’s Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1100m) at Randwick, prompting Pride to make favourable comparisons to his half-sibling who won seven of his first 10 starts and later went on to Group 1 success.
“He looks exactly the same as him,” Pride said.
“Those dolls that go inside each other (Matryoshka dolls), he’s the miniature one. He’s tiny compared to Private Eye, but you’ve got to say, at the same point in their careers this horse is probably going just as well as him.
“He’s got a big shadow to live in there, but let’s not worry about that. In his own right, he is a very nice horse.”
King’s Secret ($2.25 fav) enjoyed a beautiful run trailing the speed and when Zac Lloyd asked for an effort, the gelding pounced, bounding clear to defeat Zealously ($6) by 1-3/4 lengths with Dollar Magic ($8.50) third.
Pride said the race had been an important test, one King’s Secret passed with flying colours.
He will weigh up where to head next but the four-year-old could have one more start and be freshened for the autumn carnival.
“He was here with a point to prove today that he was hopefully going to graduate to stakes company and based on what I saw today and what I’ve seen in the past, I don’t think there is any doubt about that,” Pride said.
“He’s got speed to put himself into a race. He’s got acceleration. I’m not sure he’s Private Eye, but he’s a good brother.”
Pride confirmed Private Eye had been spelled after his close second to Warnie in the Supernova last start and would be brought back for the Brisbane winter carnival races.
Later on Saturday’s program, Country Championships winner Know Thyself resumed with a strong win in the Toyota Forklifts Handicap (1400m), co-trainer Paul Messara indicating he would now press on to the $500,000 The Lakes (1600m) at Wyong next month.
