James McDonald has added to an already huge day at Flemington with an emphatic victory aboard the short-priced favourite In Secret in the $2 million Coolmore Stud Stakes.
The 1200m sprint feature attracted a quality field of three-year-olds down the famous straight at Headquarters, but it was the lightly-raced Godolphin filly who prevailed thanks to yet another brilliant steer from the country’s best hoop.
After drawing barrier 9, McDonald chose to settle five lengths off the pace, stalking the leaders with 200m to spare before pushing the button once a gap opened down the middle of the straight.
The rest was history as the I Am Invincible filly drew clear from her rivals, becoming the sixth filly to win the Coolmore since it became a Group 1.
J-Mac also made history of his own, riding not only his fourth winner of the day, but also winning the Coolmore for the second straight year after last year’s success aboard Home Affairs.
In Secret was installed as the short-priced favourite once markets opened following a luckless run in the Golden Rose Stakes last month where she was gunned down late by the rival Jacquinot in the 1400m feature at Rosehill.
Buenos Noches rattled home to fill the frame, a popular each-way bet at value following a narrow runner-up to subsequent Everest winner Giga Kick in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes to begin the month.
Punters that threw the Grahame Begg-trained C’est Magique into their trifecta were also rewarded as the lightly-raced Zoustar three-year-old let down beautifully to finish a clear runner-up.
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