Secret mission for Te Aroha filly in Australia

Te Aroha trainer Lisa Anderson has transferred her two-year-old filly The Secret (NZ) to the Cranbourne base of Colin and Cindy Alderson.

The Secret (2f Sakhee’s Secret – Sista by Magic Of Sydney) has run second in both starts to date.  She was runner-up at Pukekohe in December and returned from a spell to be beaten a nose by Aaja Nachle at Avondale on May 22.

Anderson wasn’t keen to see the filly head to the spelling paddock when she could secure a win across the Tasman.  “She has any amount of ability so we are keen to get a win with her and the opportunity to do that exists at this time of the year in Australia.  Their winter tracks are not as testing as we strike here.

“The form around her first two starts has stacked up and we think she will just keep getting better as she gets older.”

Anderson co-owns the filly with partner Grant McLeod having bred her from their well performed mare Sista (NZ).  Numbering the Wanganui and Hamilton Guineas amongst her six victories, Sista has also produced the useful performer Mistaar (Iffraaj) and is currently back in foal to Sakhee’s Secret.

“We have a yearling filly by Sakhee’s Secret as well and she is a cracking individual,” Anderson noted.  “The Secret is definitely black-type quality in New Zealand and anything she does in Australia will add real value to her breeding career.”

The Secret will have her first jump-out at Cranbourne this week with Anderson hoping the filly will be ready to commence her campaign at the same venue next weekend.

Sakhee’s Secret shuttles to The Oaks Stud from Whitsbury Manor Stud in England.  He was a G1 winner of the 2007 Newmarket July Cup and was Europe’s leading first-season sire in the winners’ category last year with 24.