Cup Consolation On Offer For Secret Number
The disappointment of missing a run in the Melbourne Cup can be substantially eased when Secret Number runs in the G3 Queen's Cup at Flemington on Saturday November 7.
Time/Date - 13.40hrs local time/Saturday, November 7, 2015
Racecourse/Country - Flemington/Australia
Surface/Distance - Turf/2600m
The disappointment of missing a run in the Melbourne Cup can be substantially eased when Secret Number runs in the G3 Queen's Cup at Flemington on Saturday November 7.
Secret Number (Saeed bin Suroor/James McDonald) came to Australia with both impressive form and the stature of a good racehorse.
The winner of four races from his 11 starts, he is a winner in Listed company at Chester at his most recent outing with his best win coming in the G3 Cumberland Cup at Ascot.
Secret Number had almost a year off after that win and had a similar period out of action before his Chester win.
The son of Raven's Pass was one of three English-trained Godolphin runners aimed at the Melbourne Cup, only to narrowly miss making the field.
"I could have run him at Flemington last Saturday to try to be sure of a place, but he isn't the type of horse who can race like that twice in a week," said trainer Saeed bin Suroor.
Secret Number, instead, maintained his training program and has continued to improve in condition and attitude.
"He's really happy here," said bin Suroor.
"His work is good, he is fit and I think he will run very well."
The five-year-old has been one of the most impressive visitors to Melbourne this spring and would have been among the better prospects had he made it into Tuesday's Cup.
While the Queen's Cup has attracted a less-illustrious field than the Melbourne Cup, it offers some serious opposition to Secret Number.
Among his seven opponents are five English imports, including Manndawi who showed good form when third in last month's Geelong Cup and has trained on nicely since.
The Queen's Cup, previously the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, has proved a lucrative race for previous Godolphin visitors.
In 2004 the good stayer Fantastic Love won the race, with Hatha Anna having given the famous royal blue colours their first Australian success three years earlier.
