The Secret is out

September 05, 2007 - Christopher Smith

Back Sakhee’s Secret at 9/4 (Credit: Thowra UK)

Looking ahead to the Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock on September 8, there is no reason why the Hughie Morrison-trained Sakhee's Secret should be opposed in his bid to follow up his July Cup victory. If you can't beat him, join him, so our money is on at 9/4 with the sponsors.

It has been a steep upward curve which Sakhee's Secret has been on this term, and it's nothing short of remarkable how far this colt has come in just four starts since April 18. Then Hughie Morrison's charge was heavily backed and duly ran away with a three-year-old handicap at Newmarket, scoring by five lengths.

Subsequently, the son of Sakhee has gone from strength to strength, landing the odds in a conditions race at Newbury before laughing at his rivals in a Listed heat at Salisbury. Then, leaping up to the highest level, Sakhee's Secret proved himself to be out of the top drawer by seeing off 17 rivals to capture the Group 1 July Cup.

There will be more to come from Sakhee's Secret when he gets a bit of cut in the ground again, and the going is invariably on the easy side at Haydock on Sprint Cup day. He looks bombproof to me and, such is his class, I can envisage him going through the rest of his career without tasting defeat.

Dutch Art was sent off as a warm favourite for the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville subsequently but was unable to match Marchand d'Or, going down by a length to that Freddie Head-trained rival. Peter Chapple-Hyam's charge deserves to pick up a big race this season, but I see no reason why he should reverse the placings with Sakhee's Secret or Marchand d'Or.

The latter looks the main danger to the selection - he'll also relish a bit of juice in the ground. That remark also applies to the fragile but hugely talented Soldier's Tale who got up in the shadow of the post to nail Takeover Target in the Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot where he had Asset, who could re-oppose in this contest, half-a-length away in third.

It will be interesting to see if Chapple-Hyam pitches Tariq, in this Group 1 event. He was going away at the finish when beating Asset by a length and a quarter in the seven-furlong Betfair Cup at Glorious Goodwood and should have the requisite pace to mix it with the best over six furlongs. But chances are he'll go for the QEII at Ascot on September 29 instead.

One who will take his chance in the Sprint Cup - and run a very good race indeed - is Barry Hills' Red Clubs, who has achieved a top four finish in the Golden Jubilee, July Cup and the Nunthorpe already this term.

The Red Ransom colt is well worth an each-way punt at 16/1, also with the sponsors, as he is virtually guaranteed to give his running, handles pretty much any ground and, as his performances this term illustrate, he is likely to be bang there at the finish in this. He'll do well to contain Sakhee's Secret, but at the aforementioned price he's well worth backing for a place.

Verdict: 2pts Sakhee's Secret @ 9/4 (Betfred); 1pt e/w Red Clubs @ 16/1 (Betfred)

(Editor's Note: Follow the latest horse racing betting for the Sprint Cup on Betfred!)

Posted: September 04, 2007

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