Whilst he has a long way to go before being mentioned in the same sentence as his accomplished half-brother PRIVATE EYE, KING’S SECRET broke his maiden with a determined effort at Gosford on Anzac Day.
The Joe Pride-trained 3yo started a commanding $1.80 favourite in the 1100m Maiden Plate, having finished third to SHANGRI LA SPRING – winner of last Saturday’s Group 3 Frank Packer Plate – at his previous start on November 5.
Rider Andrew Adkins had KING’S SECRET tracking the leader and main rival JUSTICE WARRIOR ($2.70) until the home turn when the pair shifted off heels to launch their challenge.
Halfway down the straight KING’S SECRET appeared to be labouring behind JUSTICE WARRIOR but once shown the whip by Adkins, the gelding really extended to win by three-quarters of a length with a gap of almost five lengths back to third.
Great to see PRIVATE EYE’s little brother KING’S SECRET shedding his maiden with a tenacious win at @gosford_races on Anzac Day! Onwards! @PrideRacing @AndrewAdkins103 @inglis_sales pic.twitter.com/dDq4Y6XlXC
— PR🟢VEN Thoroughbreds (@ProvenTbreds) April 25, 2025
“The leader looked to have an easy time, I knew I couldn’t give him too much a start at the top of the straight so I popped at a bit earlier than what I normally would have liked,” Adkins said.
“He got a little bit unbalanced around the corner but once he balanced up, geez he showed a great turn of foot.”
KING’S SECRET’s display of acceleration was certainly reminiscent of PRIVATE EYE, who coincidentally is due to trial as soon as Tuesday ahead of another potential Queensland campaign.
Not surprisingly, most of PRIVATE EYE’s ownership group opted to buy into KING’S SECRET when we purchased him for the relatively inexpensive price of $100,000 at the 2023 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
The son of SHALAA has now won or placed at all three of his career starts with prizemoney totalling $40,425.
He becomes Proven Thoroughbreds’ 41st winner for season 2024-25.
Our other Anzac Day runners all raced well without winning – ICONIC TREASURE (3rd), LITTLE COINTREAU (4th) and MIND BENDER (4th).
