Cover image courtesy of Bronwen Healy

In Secret shines in Coolmore Stud Stakes

Star filly In Secret (I Am Invincible) stepped out of her stablemate Anamoe’s (Street Boss {USA}) shadow and wrote her own chapter on the pages of history as she romped home to land the G1 Coolmore Stud S. at Flemington on Saturday, providing Yarraman’s Champion Sire I Am Invincible with back-to-back wins in the time-honoured Group 1 in the process and third overall.

The spring racing in both Melbourne and Sydney has been awash in Godolphin blue and the daughter of I Am Invincible carried on the extraordinary form Sheikh Mohammed’s operation, which is headed by trainer James Cummings.

As is the case with so many of the stars of the turf at the moment, the 3-year-old filly was ridden by star rider James McDonald and after being knocked around in the early stages, McDonald was able look after the filly and settle her in midfield.

Finding the gaps

When the pace began to quicken, McDonald began to move closer, finding the gaps at the right time. After finding daylight, she breezed past Group 1-winning filly Coolangatta (Written Tycoon), eventually hitting the front with about 100 metres left to travel, galloping impressively all the way to the line to beat C’Est Magique (Zoustar) by 2l. Buenos Noches (Supido) was a further 1l away in third.

In Secret has chiselled together a very impressive record, breaking her maiden on debut at Hawkesbury, before duly delivering her first stakes win in the Listed Woodlands S. at Scone. She was then an unlucky second in the G2 Silver Shadow S. at Randwick on her first start this preparation, before taking out the G2 Run To The Rose in dominant fashion in September. She was then was narrowly denied victory in the G1 Golden Rose S., when chinned on the line by Jacquinot (Rubick), on September 24.

In Secret becomes the eighth filly to win the race since 2000, joining September Run (Exceed And Excel) (2020); Sunlight (Zoustar) (2018); Nechita (Fastnet Rock) (2012); Headway (Charge Forward) (2009); Gold Edition (Lion Hunter); Alinghi (Encosta De Lago) (2004); Innovation Girl (Rubiton) (2002) and So Gorgeous (Brief Truce) (2000).

Cummings was enjoying his first win in the Group 1 and he said he had always dreamed of winning the coveted Group 1.

“I've had horses that have won Golden Roses before and you dream about winning a Coolmore,” Cummings said. “You have to go to the next level to go to Derby Day and perform on the big stage over six furlongs and at set weights against the best.”

Cummings and the Godolphin team resisted the temptation of heading to The Everest at Randwick on October 15 to concentrate on the Coolmore, but Cummings was under no illusions In Secret would have been very competitive in the $15 million race.

“About four or five weeks before The Everest I was asked what horse I would recommend for The Everest,” Cummings said. “They said, if it's not going to be Anamoe, who is it going to be? I said, ‘Well I think it is going to be one of our best horses on the farm,’ and they asked who I was talking about?

“I said, ‘This horse, In Secret, is one of the best horses we've got out there and she could run a race.

“You watch that race today and watch what she did to Jacquinot there, you tell me that she wouldn't have given them a scare (in The Everest).

“Regardless of that, we've won the Coolmore, and we kept her on ice for this race but she's probably going to be The Everest favourite for next year.”

So much in hand

McDonald rode In Secret in a trial down the Flemington straight last Friday-week and said the filly gave him the feel of an explosive straight-track sprinter.

“She was ready to launch on Friday when she trialled,” McDonald said. “I had that much in hand, it wasn't funny.

“She loved the straight and I thought just jot her down for the Coolmore.”

Bred by Segenhoe and Michael and Siobhan Christian’s Saconi Thoroughbreds, In Secret was purchased by Godolphin for $900,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling in 2021 and she is out of dual Group 3 winner Eloping (Choisir), who is herself a half-sister to Group 3 scorer, Of The Brave (Starspangledbanner).

Eloping’s filly by Trapeze Artist was purchased by Mick Price’s MG Price Racing and Breeding at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale earlier this year and last season she foaled a filly by Arrowfield resident Snitzel. This year the mare produced a sister to In Secret and she has been covered by the reigning Australian Champion Sire again this season.

With her victory in the Group 1, In Secret becomes the 19th elite-level winner for I Am Invincible and his second in the G1 Coolmore Stud S., with last year’s winner Home Affairs, being his second, while Brazen Beau, who won the race 2014, was his first. The stallion stands at Yarraman Park Stud for a fee of $247,500 (inc GST).

Manzoice too good in VRC Derby

Cambridge Stud shuttler Almanzor (Fr) was handed the biggest day of his career since retiring to the breeding barn when his son, Manzoice, showed his class to win the G1 VRC Derby on Saturday, providing the stallion his first elite-level winner.

Trained by Chris Waller and ridden by Michael Dee, the 3-year-old colt had not tasted victory since he broke his maiden at Rosehill in August as a 2-year-old and went into Saturday’s race having run eighth behind Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) in the G1 Spring Champion S.

However, Manzoice was able to turn the tables on the G1 Spring Champion S. victor, Sharp ‘N’ Smart, who slipped the field approaching the 200-metre mark. But, Manzoice was not giving up, digging deep to reel in the leader, eventually catching him on the line to beat the gelding by 0.5l.

Aberfeldie Boy (So You Think {NZ}) was a further 1.25l adrift in third, while the in-form Mr Maestro (NZ) (Savabeel) was another 1l back in fourth.

In some respects the colt emulated his sire in Saturday’s Group 1, with Almanzor pocketing a win in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) in 2016 and the victory also provided Waller with his second win in the time-honoured event having won it first in 2014 with Preferment (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}). With the trainer overseeing his runners in Sydney, the post-race interviews were left to Waller’s assistant trainer, Charlie Duckworth.

“Terrific performance from the horse and it's been the plan all the way through and things haven't gone his way with wide draws and wet tracks, but we've stuck solid with the plan that we set out to do,” Duckworth said.

“Beautiful ride from Micky Dee. It was obviously looking like he was going to be a bit unlucky on the turn, but he kept persevering, trying to get out and he knuckled down really well in the last 100 metres.

“He's a horse that I think will improve with the more racing he does as he's still a bit doughty mentally and doesn't really know what it's about.

A fortnight ago, Dee and Waller combined to secure the G1 Caulfield Cup with Durston (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) and he expressed his delight after Saturday’s victory.

“If you said to me before this spring that I'd have two major Group 1s coming up, I'd probably laugh,” Dee said. “It is pretty surreal and hopefully it can continue. I really have to thank Chris Waller and his team. Once again, he's presented this horse here in tip-top shape.

“Walking around the yard I thought he's certainly a Derby horse. He's just so calm, got such a big stride on him and it all panned out. He was very strong. I was very happy early and then the tempo came out of the race and it just got a bit tricky from the mile onwards when we were getting pushed around by horses inside and out.

“We were just starting to edge toward the outside and he really let down strong when we got into the clear. He's a big, strong horse and he was able to buffet his way out and I always was confident he was going to be strong the last furlong too.”

Bred by Stephanie Hole, the 3-year-old was the first yearling offered by Almanzor in the Southern Hemisphere when he went through the ring as part of the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He was purchased that day for $340,000 by his trainer and his long-standing bloodstock agent Guy Mulcaster of Mulcaster Bloodstock.

The colt is out of Group 3-winning mare Choice (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and becomes the eighth stakes winner and second Group 1 winner for Mastercraftsman (Ire) as a broodmare sire, with superfast sprinter Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible) his other top-level scorer out of one of his daughters.

Globally, Almanzor, who calls Haras d'Etreham home in the Northern Hemisphere, has sired six stakes winners and this is his second in the Southern Hemisphere with R. Listed Karaka Million 2YO winner Dynastic (NZ) being his other. He is standing at Cambridge Stud in New Zealand for a fee of $50,000 plus GST.

Icebath finally gets her day in the sun

Prolific Group 1 placegetter, Icebath (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}), finally got her much-deserved day in the sun when she produced an impressive display to win the G1 Empire Rose S. at Flemington.

The daughter of Scared Falls (NZ) provided Mark Chittick’s Waikato Stud with a memorable across-the-state-bred double on the day, with I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel), who Chittick also bred and owns, having taken out the $10 million Golden Eagle only 20 minutes earlier.

Trained by Brad Widdup and ridden by Craig Williams, Icebath, who incidentally ran second in last year’s Golden Eagle, had made the frame at a frustrating five occasions at Group 1 level before Saturday’s race, but she put that ghost to bed when surging to an impressive 0.4l victory over Mirra Vision (Lonhro).

Meanwhile, Excelida (Exceed And Excel) was another 0.7l further back in third and red-hot favourite, La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) came with a late run to finish fourth, a further 0.2l off the pace.

“She’s now a Group 1-winning mare, and it was great,” said Williams, who was dislodged from the saddle soon after the line. “She’s a bit of a lady and she’s got her mannerisms, and we saw that on display. She did all the running to get the Group 1, and she made me do all the running to get home.

“A couple of her runs this preparation have been against Anamoe, Zaaki, the best horses. Her last race looked a bit plain, but as Brad (Widdup) said, maybe she just had a hard time on those Heavy tracks and we just needed to give her time. She’s thrived since she came down here.

“I’ve been watching a few of her replays and done some homework with Brad (Widdup), who’s unwell and back in Sydney.

“I went back and watched old editions of this race, and when I walked the track I was really happy. I knew I could be economical. Most importantly, I had the horse to deliver, and she was awesome.”

Purchased by Brad Widdup Racing and Samaco Racing for $100,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale in 2018, the daughter of the ill-fated Waikato Stud sire Sacred Falls (NZ) is out of the five-time-winning Savabeel mare Fabulist (NZ).

Icebath is one of five winners produced by Fabulist and they include her Group 3-winning brother Courier Wonder (NZ) and Listed-winning half-brother, Nowyousee (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}).

The victory provided Sacred Falls, who died in 2019, yet another posthumous Group 1 winner, which sees his tally move to two and he joins G1 New Zealand Guineas winner Aegon (NZ) as his other. Interestingly, Aegon bred on a similar cross to Icebath, being out of a daughter of Zabeel (NZ), grandsire to Icebath’s damsire, Savabeel.

Victorians prevail again in Golden Eagle

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, I Wish I Win handed Victorian-trained runners a second victory in the Golden Eagle when the Peter Moody-trained gelding narrowly came out on top of a close finish, beating the fast-finishing Fangirl (Sebring) by 0.04l.

Last seen finishing a close second in the G1 Toorak H., I Wish I Win, who was trained in New Zealand by the now Hong Kong-based trainer, Jamie Richards, added a first stakes win to his record in the Listed Testa Rossa S. in September and with this big payday it saw his earnings rise to $5,605,639.

“Great thrill – congratulations to the team at Waikato Stud,” said Moody, who also part owns the gelding.

“We had faith in this horse and people thought he was disappointing in the Toorak, but the track just didn’t suit him that day. Luke (Nolen, jockey) gave him a gun run today, presented him at the right time and got the job done.

“This is the second richest turf race in the world – we’ll take it! It’s tremendous, it’s been a great thrill and a great ride. Mark and Pippa (Chittick) and the team back at Waikato, ‘Congratulations team - that’s tremendous’, and thanks for inviting me to be a part of this horse.”

It was a second win in succession for a horse trained in the state of Victoria, following up the victory of the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained I’m Thunderstruck (NZ) (Shocking) in last year’s race.

I Wish I Win is a half-brother to the G3 BRC Premier's Cup and Listed Gosford Gold Cup winning, Group 1-placed Another Dollar (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}), with the pair both being out of the metropolitan-placed, two-time winner Make A Wish (NZ) (Pins).

Zennzella shines in Wakeful win

Fresh from breaking her maiden on her most recent start, Zennzella (Snitzel) proved too strong for her rivals in the G2 Wakeful S. and she could now head to the G1 VRC Oaks back at Flemington on Thursday.

Ridden by James McDonald, the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained daughter of Snitzel surged clear and had to dig deep in the closing stages to repel the advances of Pavitra (American Pharoah {USA}), eventually beating her by 0.4l.

Eustace said the stable would monitor the filly's condition before deciding whether to tackle the G1 VRC Oaks at Flemington in the middle of next week.

In the past, the G2 Wakeful S. has been a good lead-up to the Group 1 five days later, with Miami Bound (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) (2019); Aristia (Lonhro) (2018); Kirramosa (NZ) (Alamosa {NZ}) (2013) and Brazilian Pulse (NZ) (Captain Rio {GB}) (2010) all doing the double.

“We'll see how she is,” Eustace said. “We've always felt she's a nice filly, we've just been very patient with her.

“We were keen not to kick her off on Heavy tracks and so we had to bite the bullet and run on the synthetic. She won well and she just thrived from that run, so we came here today quite confident.

“I've got to say, James (McDonald) gave her the most beautiful ride. He just waited and waited, conserved energy and that was the key.”

A number of the ownership group of Zennzella also have shares in Loft (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) who had been second-favourite in Tuesday's G1 Melbourne Cup until he was ruled out with a tendon injury on Friday.

Part-owner Ozzie Kheir said Zennzella's win was a nice boost following the events of the previous 24 hours.

“There has been a little bit of emotion in the last 24 hours, so to get a win like that, which was a little unexpected, is great,” Kheir said.

“I was hoping she would run top three, so I'm very happy to get the win.”

Bred by Gerry Harvey, the filly was sold through his Baramul Stud draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and she was snapped up by Kennewell Racing and Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA) for $350,000.

Zennzella is out of multiple Group 3 winner Zennista (NZ) (Zenno Rob Roy {Jpn}) and she becomes the 128th stakes winner, and eighth this season, for Arrowfield Stud’s multiple Champion Sire Snitzel, who is commanding a fee of $220,000 (inc GST).

Perfect performance from So You Think colt

Coolmore’s So You Think (NZ) got the Melbourne Cup Carnival off to the perfect start when his son Perfect Thought outshone his more experienced rivals to run out a shock winner of the G3 Carbine Club S. at Flemington on Saturday.

Trained by John Sargent and ridden by in-form jockey Craig Williams, the 3-year-old colt was having his first trip in stakes company having only broken his maiden in August, but he showed no signs of stage fright on a big day, sauntering clear in the final stages to beat Elkington Road (All Too Hard) by 1.75l. The Fortune Teller (Caravaggio {USA}) was 0.25l away in third.

Sporting the famous silks of the late Dato Tan Chin Nam, which So You Think carried to victory for much of his career, Perfect Thought was bred by Wallings Bloodstock and Anthony Hatzopoulos and he was purchased by Think Big Stud’s Managing Director Duncan Ramage of DGR Thoroughbred Services for $120,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the Tyreel Stud draft in 2021.

Sargent said the plan had always been to swerve the G1 VRC Derby and target this Group 3 and he was pleased to see the plan come to fruition.

“He’s a bit of a quirky colt so we’ve changed all of his gear and he’s had nothing today (Saturday),” Sargent said.

“He shows so much potential at home on the track and we’ve always rated him with the connections and today he showed he is a good horse.”

When asked whether he made the right choice not running the colt in the G1 VRC Derby, Sargent said, “I think so, I don’t think a Derby (VRC Derby) is his type of race. He’s a bit too keen for that, but it’s a very good race to win, a Carbine, very good horses come out of this.”

Craig Williams has enjoyed a very good spring carnival so far and this win on Perfect Thought has now made it his fifth Group win for the spring in Victoria and New South Wales.

“You could feel that he had nice ability back then and the end of the 2-year-old season and I haven’t seen him since.”

In winning the Group 3, Perfect Thought becomes the 46th stakes winner for So You Think, who is standing for a fee of $93,500 (inc GST).

Surefire ignites burners at Flemington

Not to be out done by his younger barnmate, So You Think's evergreen barnmate, Fastnet Rock also added to his total stakes-winning haul courtesy of Surefire’s (GB) (Fastnet Rock) triumph in the G3 Archer S., which saw the son of Danehill’s (USA) total number of stakes winners rise to 190.

Trained by Chris Waller and raced by Juddmonte, the 5-year-old gelding signalled he was a stakes winner in the making when produced his best performance since being transferred from Ralph Beckett’s Newmarket yard with a second-place finish in the G3 Geelong Cup on October 19.

Ridden by red-hot jockey James McDonald, Surefire finished 1l ahead of the 2020 G1 Epsom Derby winner Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who produced by far his best performance since landing on Australian shores.

The G3 Archer S., formerly known as the Hotham H., is usually used at the last-ditch opportunity to squeeze into the field for the G1 Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, but Surefire has not been nominated for the time-honoured Flemington event so will not line up in the 3200-metre race.

However, by running second, Serpentine has earned his spot in Tuesday’s Group 1 and he will be out to hand Lloyd Williams an astonishing eighth win in the great contest. Nick Williams revealed the Robert Hickmott-trained son of Galileo (Ire) would take his spot with jockey John Allen on board.

Bred by owners Juddmonte Farms, Surefire hails from a typically deep family, being out of Listed winner Modesta (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}), making him a half-brother to Grade 3-winner Button Down (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and Listed winner Platitude (GB) (Dansili {GB}).

Meanwhile, Juddmonte Farms’ headline stallion, Frankel (GB), also sired a stakes winner on Saturday as his 4-year-old daughter Argentia took out the G3 Rising Fast S.

Having not saluted the judge since her victory in the G3 Kevin Hayes S., Argentia pulled 0.5l clear of Triple Mission (Smart Missile).

Bred by Evergreen Rich, Argentia was purchased by James Harron Bloodstock for $670,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and she is out of multiple Group 1-winning Champion Princess Coup (Encosta De Lago), who is also the dam of Hong Kong Group 3 winner, Thewizardofoz (Redoute’s Choice).

Asfoora wins again

The Henry Dwyer-trained Asfoora (Flying Artie) showed her recent victory in the G2 McCafe Sprint was no fluke when she followed up that win with another stakes triumph in the G3 Furphy Sprint at Flemington on Saturday.

The 4-year-old daughter of Flying Artie defeated Veranskova (Written Tycoon) by 0.75l, while Sneaky Paige (Deep Field) was another 1.25l away in third.

Asfoora is one of four stakes winners for Newgate Farm-based Flying Artie, whose progeny is headed by G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Artorius and the stallion is standing at stud for a fee of $22,000 (inc GST).

Old Flame lights up Linlithgow Stakes

You only need look at the Australian activity at the Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale earlier this week to know that it has been a very good source of winners in the past and on Saturday at Flemington the auction produced yet another stakes-winning graduate as the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Old Flame (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) dispatched his rivals in the G2 Linlithgow S.

Old Flame had won twice since arriving in Australia and showed glimpses of brilliance when running second in the G2 Shannon S. at Rosehill on September 24, while he had no luck in running when finishing seventh in the Listed Weekend Hussler S. on October 8.

However, he had all the luck in the world on his side on Saturday, pulling clear to beat Poland (So You Think {NZ}) by 1.5l. Ironclad (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was another 2.5l away in third.

The Snowdens teamed up with shrewd bloodstock agent Will Johnson of William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA) to purchase Old Flame for 250,000gns (AU$447,200) at the 2021 edition of the Newmarket-based sale.

After Saturday’s facile win for the son of Invincible Spirit (Ire) it was no surprise to see the same team return to the well earlier this week, purchasing two geldings, Substantial (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) and Unspoken (Ire) (Territories {Ire}), for 160,000gns (AU$286,200) and 170,000gns (AU$303,600) respectively.

Big consolation for Private Eye

Having finished a narrow second behind Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) in The Everest, the Joseph Pride-trained Private Eye (Al Maher) handed his connections a big consolation prize when he bounced back to winning form in the $3 million Nature S. at Rosehill.

A winner of the G2 Gilgai S. earlier in the year, the son of Al Maher showed a blistering turn of foot to beat The Everest third-placed horse, Mazu (Maurice {Jpn}) by 1.3l, while Kementari (Lonhro) was another 0.5l further afield in third.

Pride said the gelding could now head for a rematch with Giga Kick and back up in the G1 Champions Sprint at Flemington next weekend - a race that Nature Strip (Nicconi) is also expected to defend his crown.

“I'm keen to get him down there and if he can win at the mile next week, well wow, he's going to stamp himself as one of the most versatile horses, (or) the most versatile horse in Australia and maybe one of the best,” Pride said.

“We've got a bit to think about the next seven days, haven't we?

“But I'm keen to get him down there, it was always the aim and this stuff along the way has been a pretty big bonus. He's a lovely horse. He's taken a lot of time to mature, but the way he's gone over the past six months he's just kept stepping it up and who knows where he can get to.”

Cover image courtesy of Bronwen Healy

Christian had been patiently waiting to celebrate his first Group 1 winner as a breeder for many years, coming close on many occasions and last Saturday that dream became a reality when Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) - who Christian and his wife Siobhan still part-own, proved too strong for her rivals in the G1 Manikato S.

However, fresh off the back of that win, Christian did not have to wait long to breed his second winner at elite-level as the Godolphin-owned, James Cummings-trained In Secret (I Am Invincible), who the Christians co-bred with Segenhoe, proved to be a class apart in Saturday’s G1 Coolmore Stud S.

“I literally said to my daughter earlier today (Saturday), that we have been trying for years to breed a Group 1 winner and we have had so many Group 1-placings and then, in the space of seven days, we now have two - it’s just amazing,” he told TDN AusNZ.

“I don’t really know where to start, I’m speechless to be honest. There are Group 1s and then there are Group 1s and in the 2-year-old year, there is the Golden Slipper, but I think it has been established over time that this race is the 3-year-old race you most want to win. It is certainly from the colts perspective a stallion-making race and for a filly to win the race is not easy, so it’s a massive thrill.”

Important family ties

Much like with Bella Nipotina’s family, In Secret hails from a pedigree very close to the Christians' heart, having purchased In Secret's grandam, the winless Runaway Jesse (Rory’s Jester) because he was a huge fan of the Rory’s Jester element of her pedigree.

Producing winners with her first and third foals, Runaway Jesse’s fourth foal was In Secert's dam, Eloping (Choisir), who Christian retained a share in when she was sold to Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock and the Racing Women Syndicate for $120,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2013.

Unlike her mother, Eloping, who is herself a half-sister to Group 3 scorer Of The Brave (Starspangledbanner), proved a star on the track winning five times at stakes level-headed by wins in the G3 Royal Randwick S. and G3 Champagne S. and Christian said he and his wife’s long association with the family made the victory all the more special.

“I think the most thrilling thing for me and my wife, Siobhan, is that we bred In Secret’s dam, Eloping as well. We bought the grandam for $10,000, mainly because she was a tank and she was by Rory’s Jester, who I really like to see in a pedigree and in fact Bella Nipotina’s great-grandam is also by Rory’s Jester.

“She (Runaway Jesse) was no good as a racemare, but her fourth foal was Eloping and she was a brilliant racemare, winning five stakes races and over a million in prizemoney, which at time was just incredible.

“We took the mare, Eloping, to the Magic Millions sale as a yearling, but we were keen to stay involved and a close friend ours, Peter Morgan, bought the horse and we stayed in for 50 per cent to race her and to be fair, I would love to race all our fillies, but I need to bring a bit of money back in door.

“Towards the end of her racing career, the other 50 per cent, made up for 10 five per cent holders, became available and there was an offer from Segenhoe and I told Billy Mitchell, who was working for Segenhoe at the time, that we wouldn’t sell her, so they bought the other 50 per cent out.”

The Secrets out

Eloping’s first foal, King Of Hearts (Sebring), was also a winner and then she missed to I Am Invincible in her second year, before producing In Secret the following season.

In Secret was purchased by Godolphin for $900,000 from the draft of her co-breeders Segenhoe at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling in 2021 and Christian said he was sad to see the filly sell, but knew she would get every chance to become a top-class horse with Godolphin.

“So, to have her second foal come out and do what In Secret has done, is just mind-blowing and is what every breeder dreams of. To win a prestigious Group 1 like the Coolmore and have Bella Nipotina last week, I can’t believe it.

“We are obviously in the ownership of Bella Nipotina, but sadly not in the ownership of In Secret. I’ve known Vin Cox for a long time and Godolphin only bought one horse at the sales in 2021 and In Secret was it - that’s astonishing.

“Obviously, they paid a good price for her and at the time I was just so pleased she was going to a great home and knew that she would be given every possible chance.”

A long way

The filly has come a long way since she broke her maiden at Hawkesbury in April earlier this year and Christian was full of admiration for the team at Godolphin with how they have handled her career thus far.

“I think she had a couple of little issues before Christmas, but as we got into the new year and they started to ramp up her preparations before her first-up run, there was a fair bit of excitement in the Godolphin camp,” he said.

“But who would have thought after she broke her maiden at Hawkesbury at the back end of last season, she would be winning a Coolmore? It’s incredible. They have been very clever with her throughout her training, after she broke her maiden they targeted her at the Listed Woodlands to get her black-type, which was a big tick for them and a big tick for us as well.

“To win the Coolmore after five weeks between runs is impressive and full credit has to go to Vin Cox, James Cummings and James McDonald and the team for the amazing job they’ve done with her - I couldn’t be more proud.”

The Christians spring could get even better when Bella Nipotina takes aim at a second Group 1 win when she lines up in the G1 Champions Sprint at Flemington on Saturday.

Building up families

As for Eloping, she has a yearling filly by Snitzel, who is headed for the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale and five weeks ago she delivered a sister to In Secret and has once again been covered by the Yarraman Park-based sire.

While he no longer owns In Secret, Christian said he still owns a lot of the family, which he will continue to keep building on.

“It really is a dream come true. She has a five-week old sister to In Secret, who is as good a foal as In Secret was and she is back in foal to I Am Invincible,” said Christian.

“The Snitzel filly is a very strong looking, fast yearling and she will be sold at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale next year. She looks like she can really run, we are very excited about her as well.”

Christian said his main aim at Longwood Thoroughbreds is building families and he is under no illusions of the enormity of Saturday’s win and the life-changing effect it can have on a pedigree.

“We have Eloping’s two sisters on the farm, plus we have a young 4-year-old mare, who is a three-quarter sister to Eloping. We also have a sister to Of The Brave, who is just off the track, and she is in foal to King’s Legacy.

“We are heavily invested in the family and we have tried to build the family. We are taking a colt by Street Boss out of a sister to Eloping to the Magic Millions Sale in January, so we are heavily invested and we are trying to build that family. It is very exciting, because the ripple effect that a win like this can have can really help us achieve what we want to achieve.”