In Secret is the new Golden Rose favourite after capping a heady 40 minutes for Godolphin with her explosive win in the Run To The Rose.
The filly’s victory came just a race after stablemate Golden Mile staked his claims for the Group 1 race with a similarly dominant performance in the Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m), vaulting him to the second line of Golden Rose betting at $7.
But it was hard to top the display of In Secret ($3.20 fav), who became the first filly to win the Run To The Rose since its inception in 2003, stalking the speed and letting loose with a dazzling turn of foot to topple Best Of Bordeaux ($4.80) by 1-3/4 lengths with another neck to Sweet Ride ($17).
Bookmakers quickly made her the outright favourite for the Golden Rose at $5 and Godolphin representative Darren Beadman said she probably deserved it.
“That doesn’t surprise me. She gets in with a filly’s weight,” Beadman said.
“She’s no oil painting but what she’s got in here (heart) and what she’s got up there (head), that’s what counts.
“The race set up nicely for her, but she has just been crying out for a dryer track and the team has been very patient with her.
“She’s top shelf.”
In Secret was originally slated to run in the Furious Stakes (1200m) at Randwick last weekend but was scratched when the track was downgraded to heavy.
She was also withdrawn form a Listed assignment at Flemington on Saturday in favour of the Run To The Rose and it proved the right move.
“It was a great call because horses getting back (at Randwick) weren’t hitting the line, it was very tough for them and she’s not a very big filly, it would have taken a lot out of her,” Beadman said.
“Wise decision and really, her first two runs have laid a great foundation for the spring.”
James Mcdonald was pleased with the run of Best Of Bordeaux after he was pressured in the lead mid-race.
“He jumped extremely well, got into a lovely rhythm,” McDonald said.
“He was softened up in the mid-stages. It was put to him early in the straight, but he dug deep.”
Golden Slipper winner Fireburn was doing her best work late to finish fifth, a length ahead of stablemate Sejardan, and trainer Gary Portelli was pleased with the pair after they got a long way back.
Both will continue to the Golden Rose where Poretlli says they will be better suited by a distance rise to 1400m.