HIDDEN KISSES has been in work since the beginning of the year but the Hidden Dragon filly can rise to the occasion again on Saturday in the Listed Phoenix Stakes (1350m) at Doomben.

Hidden Kisses is the flag-bearer for Lyndhurst Stud based sire Hidden Dragon winning twice in five starts so far this season.  She scored a first-up victory over 1200m at Eagle Farm in February and then won again over 1400m at the same venue three weeks later.

The running double earned her a trip to Sydney for the Group 1 Sires’ Produce Stakes at Randwick and she was far from disgraced when finishing four lengths behind long-shot winner Yosei.

Trainer Robbie Heathcote freshened her up for the winter carnival and she resumed from a five week break in the Listed Hampden Stakes at Doomben on May 9.  She was never on the track and didn’t figure in the finish behind Ringa Ringa Rosie who is the $4 pre-post favourite for the Phoenix Stakes.

Hidden Kisses (2f Hidden Dragon – Kiss An Angel by Piccolo) looks great each-way value at her opening quote of $11.  She will appreciate the extra 150 metres this Saturday despite drawing wide in gate 12.  The barrier won’t worry jockey Larry Cassidy because the filly will settle well back in the early stages.  Given a quick clip up front, she can unleash a winning burst in the straight.

“She likes to get back and my only worry is going to be the tempo,” Heathcote explained.  “All going well, she will be even better suited over 1600 metres in the T.J. Smith at Eagle Farm next month.”

Cassidy also has a big opinion of Hidden Kisses and is keen to stay on board .  “I really think she’s an Oaks filly next season and what she’s doing now is a bonus,” Cassidy said.  “Potentially she’s going to win a big race whether it’s now or as a three-year-old.”

A bargain buy for $25,000 from the Robyn Wise draft at the 2009 Gold Coast Magic Millions, Hidden Kisses has now earned $159,000 in prizemoney and QTIS bonuses.  She was purchased by agent Paul Willetts on behalf of a syndicate of that includes London based Richard Pegum.  He has also raced the Redoute’s Choice fillies My Amelia and Amelia’s Dream with Gai Waterhouse.

Hidden Dragon (Danehill) has been one of the success stories in the first-season sire ranks this season.  He is sitting in equal third place with Snitzel on 8 winners, right behind the pace-setters Jet Spur (11) and Stratum (10).  The Lyndhurst freshman sired his latest winner when Norbert scored a very impressive three length victory at Port Macquarie on Monday.

Hidden Kisses is from the former Jim Atkins trained mare Kiss An Angel.  She was raced by leading owner-breeder Andy O’Dwyer and only performed in her own back yard scoring all five wins at Clifford Park in Toowoomba.  Her only other foal to race is last-start winner Sequalo Revenge.  He is by Lyndhurst leader Sequalo and is top-weight in Race 5 at the Gold Coast this Saturday.  

Kiss An Angel has a yearling colt by Sequalo, a filly foal by Hidden Dragon and O’Dwyer bred her back to Hidden Dragon last year.  Willetts weighed in with another $15,000 to buy the colt at the 2010 Gold Coast Magic Millions.

Second-dam O’Cinderella (Semipalatinsk) is a winning three-quarter-sister to Hello Possums.  He was also trained by Atkins for O’Dwyer and won 12 races including the 2007 QTC Easter Cup at Eagle Farm.

Hidden Kisses is one of four winning chances for Heathcote this Saturday.  His other starters on the Doomben 10,000 undercard are in Race 2 – Princess Qualo (Sequalo), Race 6 – Tabulate (Honours List) and Race 8 – Gundy Son (Falvelon).