Secret Spirit (green colours) returning to scale with Michael Coleman up after running a lovely trial for second today at Cambridge
I was delighted in Secret Spirit’s effort for second today at the Cambridge Trials.
The four time Black Type-winning daughter of Swiss Ace hasn’t been seen out since running last in the New Zealand 1000 Guineas-Gr.1 at Riccarton Park last November.
The filly chipped both front fetlocks in the race and has slowly been nursed back to full health through the joint efforts of Ronan Costello (vet, Marks & Ewen), Paul Pertab (breaker & agistment) and her trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott.
Today was important as it represented her first serious test since surgery. Rider Michael Coleman told me post-trial that the filly gave him a good feel and it was a nice trial.
Secret Spirit (Swiss Ace ex Spirit of Sandford, by Kilimanjaro) won the Great Northern Foal Stakes-LR and Ryder Stakes-LR at two. She continued on at three to take out both the Wanganui O’Leary Stakes-LR and Bonecrusher Stakes-Gr.3 at three. It was a campaign which saw her win four Stakes Races on the trot, a rare feat by any standards.
Safely through today the filly will make a return to racing in the Rating 85 1200m at Gate Pa on Saturday, 25 June.
Secret Spirit is raced by the Challenge No.2 Syndicate who I’m sure will delight in the news of today’s performance.