Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Capitalist 3-year-old Hidden Motive capped off a run of consistent form with victory in the G2 Roman Consul Stakes for Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle. He is now owned by Doyle himself, Sean Driver’s Kurrinda Bloodstock, and a large, excited group of owners. With career earnings just shy of $350,000 - a strong return on the original $120,000 outlay, he could yet develop into a valuable stallion prospect.
A horse that was high on Doyle’s wish list
Originally, optimism about securing this strong-looking colt by Capitalist at the sales was low, as Sean Driver of Kurrinda Bloodstock imagined they’d be stretching the budget a bit too far, and the colt might be beyond their means.
However, as it turned out, the colt was initially passed in, and Hidden Motive’s now-trainer and co-purchaser, Nathan Doyle seized the opportunity. He gave Driver a call, they got together, and a deal was struck, a deal that looks even better now.
Sean Driver | Image courtesy of Kurrinda Bloodstock
“He was high on Nathan’s (Nathan Doyle) list and on my list at the Gold Coast, but we genuinely thought he would make too much with his pedigree,” Driver commented.
“Nathan was really keen, and I was keen, but I was on the fence a little bit mainly because I thought he would go for too much. He ended up being passed in, Nathan said we had better have another look at this colt.
Nathan Doyle | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“He was strong and physically, a really good type. If anything, he was a touch long in the pasterns for me, which I was a little worried about, but full credit to Nathan. He wanted the colt and said to me, ‘Don’t worry about that. I can manage him.’
“We got a really good deal. We offered $120,000, and Cressfield accepted, even when I think the reserve was set a bit higher. Nathan has done a great job with him, and touch wood, he has had no soundness issues at all.”
Hidden Motive as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
A pedigree to be smart and fast
Hidden Motive is undoubtedly bred to be good. He is the fourth foal from Secret Agenda (Not A Single Doubt), a high-class mare who won seven races, including the G1 Robert Sangster Stakes, G2 Sapphire Stakes, G3 Gucci Stakes, G3 How Now Stakes and the Listed Bob Hoysted Handicap.
She is a full sister to Stellar Pauline (Not A Single Doubt), who was Group 3-placed, and a half-sister to three other stakes performers: Tutta La Vita (The Autumn Sun), Donandkim (Smart Missile) and Sweetener (Snitzel).
Some other quality Group winners that feature in the pedigree include Jasmin Rouge (Dundeel {NZ}) and classy Enthaar (Written Tycoon).
Secret Agenda | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Since producing Hidden Motive, Secret Agenda has left a 2-year-old colt by Home Affairs named Covert Action that is trained by Shane Nichols and Hayden Black and has run second at the jump-outs at Flemington, a yearling filly by Zoustar, and was served again by Home Affairs before she sadly died in December last year.
Driver is well known for being more of a type buyer, than someone who dives deep into pedigrees, but he was quite honest when asked about the page.
“His pedigree is great, the pedigree is so strong that I thought we would have no chance of getting the horse.”
He has put a strong race record together
Hidden Motive has built a very tidy race record. From just eight starts, he’s had three wins and three placings. The only times he has finished unplaced was when he ran a meritorious fourth in the G3 Breeders’ Plate on debut, and when he finished a close-up fifth in the Listed Heritage Stakes, beaten just over a length.
Hidden Motive | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“He probably should have won the Breeders’ Plate on debut, it was a real messy race, and I think Reece Jones actually got three weeks suspension from it. He took out Nash, Nash took out us, and we nearly bought Tommy Berry down on James Harron’s horse (Valedictorian).
“As a result, he ended up a pair back further than he should have been, and ran the quickest last 600 metres of the race, he wasn’t beaten far, only just over one and a half lengths.
“He was a bit hard done by that day, we put him away and he came back stronger, and Nathan has placed him very well, and when he has got beat he has run gallant races. He won a couple in a row at Hawkesbury and Randwick and then had a little break.
“He ran first up at Canterbury in an open age race at 72 level against the older horses. We knew he might battle a bit with those conditions, but he ran a good third and we had Braith (Braith Nock) on to take a bit of weight off.
“Then two weeks ago he was terrific being beaten just over a length behind Marhoona, and we knew he would benefit from that run so we knew that if we got a barrier we could have a good chance in the Roman Consul, and so it proved, Ash (Ashley Morgan) gave him a terrific ride and we got a very valuable result.”
What’s next on the agenda?
It seems likely that Hidden Motive will attempt what Switzerland achieved last year - progressing from G2 Roman Consul success straight to G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes glory down the straight at Flemington.
Switzerland | Standing at Coolmore
Zoustar and Brazen Beau also completed this same double in 2013 and 2014, and the Coolmore looks the logical next step - along with the chance to cement Hidden Motive as a stallion prospect.
“The Coolmore looks the obvious choice,” Driver said.
“I will talk to Nathan probably tomorrow, but he has already messaged and said the colt has pulled up well, so initial signs are promising.
“The colt is a solid fella, he does well in the feed bin, and he runs particularly well third or fourth up, so he should be peaking next time, which you need to be for a race like the Coolmore.
“The colt (Hidden Motive) is a solid fella, he does well in the feed bin, and he runs particularly well third or fourth up, so he should be peaking next time, which you need to be for a race like the Coolmore.” - Sean Driver
“We are likely to send the colt down to Melbourne nice and early. We will try and get him to a jump-out down the straight or even a gallop just to give him that experience and to stimulate him a bit.
“We would love Ash to stick with him for the big one. We will just see if he can forgo a full day of rides in Sydney to ride him, but we will make that call soon.”
Hidden Motive: A potential stallion in the making
Sean Driver, Kurrinda Bloodstock and Nathan Doyle have recently had success with Private Harry (Harry Angel {Ire}), turning him into a Group 1 winner. As a result, they entered a deal with Yulong, who purchased half the colt to race and then as a stallion prospect upon retirement.
Private Harry | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The same hope and ambition now lie with Hidden Motive.
“Warranted it was only a Group 2 but he is well on the way to having that potential. He is now a Group 2-winning sprinter, beating the class record that King’s Gambit had set.” Driver commented.
“Hidden Motive is by a Group 1 winner and out of a Group 1 winner. Capitalist won the Magic Millions and the Slipper, he has the pedigree and is fast.
“Australians love genuine, fast, sit handy, tough sprinters. He raced well at two and has improved at three, so there is plenty to like about him, but he also still has work to do.
“I’m really happy for the ownership group, we have lots of Kurrinda’s good owners in the horse, and a lot of Nathan’s good owners also, so they are having a great run and hopefully there is more to come.”
