Top sprinter In Secret has been ruled out of the Brisbane winter carnival as Godolphin sets its sights on another tilt at the $15 million The Everest.
The mare finished a game third behind I Wish I Win and Bella Nipotina in Saturday’s Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm, with connections confirming on Wednesday that the decision had been made to spell her with a long-term view to the spring.
“#Team Godolphin has decided to give our dual G1 winner #InSecret a well-deserved spell,” Godolphin said on X, formerly known as twitter.
“She will return following a similar path to last year’s spring carnival, targeting races like The Everest and the G1 Darley Champions Sprint.”
In Secret tackled The Everest (1200m) third-up last preparation, resuming with a close second to Remarque in the Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Randwick before finishing fourth to Private Eye in The Shorts (1100m).
Drawing the widest gate in the Randwick feature, she was jagged back to last by Zac Purton and had to weave through the field before flashing home to finish fourth to Think About It.
The mare was again competitive at the highest level when third to Imperatriz in the Darley Champions Sprint (1200m) at Flemington in November, before resuming with her Kingsford Smith Cup performance.
She is the second horse to be chosen for an Everest slot after former West Australian youngster Bustling.
The winner of four of his five starts at Ascot including the Group 2 Karrakatta Plate, Bustling will represent the slot owned by Max Whitby, Neil Werrett and Col Madden, who have also purchased shares in the rising three-year-old.
I Wish I Win is a $4.50 favourite in early Everest markets with In Secret and Bustling both rated as $15 chances.