James Cummings is banking on the form from the Golden Rose proving pivotal in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington.
The Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) on Saturday is the ‘grand final’ for a number of the best three-year-olds in the country with Godolphin and Cummings represented by In Secret.
A last start second to Jacquinot in the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill last month, In Secret has been freshened for a tilt at Saturday’s race.
Already from the Golden Rose has come Group 1 Caulfield Guineas winner, and the Cummings-trained stablemate, Golden Mile while the winner (Jacquinot) went on to finish just behind the placegetters in The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 15.
Cummings and the Godolphin hierarchy did consider The Everest for In Secret but reasoned the Coolmore Stud Stakes on Saturday was a better option.
“I think she might have run a big race in The Everest, but we decided not to go that way. There was some conjecture about a (Heavy) ten or a nine and it wasn’t that bad in the end,” Cummings said.
“We waited with the filly, and we like to think that we have her bursting ready to run again, full of energy, for this grand final race.”
Fillies have won two of the last four Coolmore Stud Stakes, with September Run scoring in 2020 and Sunlight in 2018.
In Secret was late starting her racing campaign, scoring on debut at Hawkesbury in April and then in Listed company at Scone.
She has taken it to another level this campaign though, winning second-up in the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill last month ahead of her second-place finish in the Golden Rose.
“I’m really happy with that filly,” Cummings said.
“She’s freshened up beautifully since the Golden Rose and that has proved a very good formline to follow over the past few weeks.
“She’s going to drop back to six furlongs and be very well suited under those conditions in a strong Coolmore.
“With James Mcdonald riding her, he’s got that little bit of air of confidence about him, and it would be great to see her bursting through and giving her a chance at winning a Group 1.”