SAHorseracing.com
SAHorseracing.com
Kah fall gives Holland Grade 1 win

In Secret became the latest three-year-old filly to win a Group 1 down the Flemington straight as Godolphin’s sprinting star consigned Lofty Strike to another near miss at the highest level.

In Secret ($6) blasted through the middle of the pack, delivered by Dean Holland under the featherweight of 51.5kg, to defeat G1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) runner-up Lofty Strike ($10) by a length.

Minor placegetters Lofty Strike and G1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) runner-up I Wish I Win ($4.60) made their runs closer to the outside rail and made late inroads without ever looking the winner.

The resuming pair of older geldings Private Eye ($7) and Mazu ($14) finished fourth and fifth respectively. Three lengths covered the first eight placegetters as last year’s Newmarket winner Roch ‘N’ Horse ($19) ran 10th.

In Secret provided James Cummings with his 40th Group 1 victory and jockey Dean Holland with his second top-level success. Holland opened his G1 account in the 2010 Australasian Oaks aboard Small Minds.

Holland gained the ride on In Secret within hours of the Newmarket as Melbourne’s leading jockey Jamie Kah was injured from a two-horse fall in the G2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).

“The last thing I wanted to do was carry on today win, lose or draw – it was very unfortunate what happened to Jamie and Willo (Craig Williams) and my thoughts go out to them,” Holland said.

“I’m just the lucky one that was able to ride light today and picked up the ride on one of Australia’s best sprinters.

“James (Cummings) had no other options, unfortunately; I was the one with the light weight,” Holland said.

“James had faith in me, he talked me through the race beforehand and showed me a few replays and things like that.

“She has had a tendency this prep to begin a little bit slow away and he told me to leave her alone if she does and trust that she has a good turn of foot. I rode her accordingly and she was too good.”

In Secret is the fifth three-year-old filly to win the Newmarket in the past 25 years and joins Sunlight (2019) and Alinghi (2005) in completing the Coolmore and Newmarket double in the same season.

In Secret’s Newmarket victory follows last month’s Black Caviar Lightning success of fellow three-year-old filly Coolangatta

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