John Thompson has already produced one impressive two-year-old winner this season in Bel Merci, and he will be hoping to unveil another when stablemate Open Secret makes her debut at Randwick
Open Secret is set to step out in Saturday’s The Agency Real Estate Handicap (1000m) after edging out her Gimcrack Stakes-winning barn mate in a barrier trial earlier this month.
Zac Lloyd, who partnered her in that hitout and has the race day ride, says the filly has abundant natural talent but will have to make a quick leap from the trial track to the racetrack.
“She gave me a lovely feel. She is a nice filly,” Lloyd said.
“Just one trial into a race might be a bit quick for her, but it will be a good learning curve.
“She went past John Thompson’s other good filly in the trial so she has obviously got ability, it’s just whether she might need to be a bit more seasoned against those types of horses.”
With one early scratching, a field of 12 will contest the two-year-old race, which has proven to be a handy form reference in recent seasons.
Last year it launched the career of top colt Switzerland,12 months earlier it was taken out by subsequent Blue Diamond and ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes placegetter Don Corleone, while in 2021 it was won by that year’s Golden Slipper hero Stay Inside.
Open Secret ($8.50) is by first season sire King’s Legacy and was a $150,000 Inglis Classic buy.
She is one of five youngsters heading to Saturday’s race off the back of a single trial, along with the early favourite, Coolmore colt United States, a $1.75 million Magic Millions yearling purchase.
