Three Secrets bound for WA Guineas

Rising Albany galloper Three Secrets has emerged as a contender for upcoming feature races the WA Guineas and Kingston Town Classic after surviving a protest to win the $60,000 Tabtouch Plate (1500m) at Ascot on Saturday afternoon.

In just his third career start Three Secrets settled on speed for jockey Shaun McGruddy before powering home from the final turn to defeat Roganella by half a length.

Roganella’s rider Chris Parnham, lodged a protest against McGruddy and Three Secrets for alleged interference in the home straight when the winner drifted out to the middle of the track, however stewards deemed the action was not enough to overturn the result and declared Three Secrets the official winner.

The smart three-year-old ran second to Rockon Tommy and Sophia’s Secret at Belmont earlier this year and trialled once after those first two starts before his impressive Saturday victory.

Three Secrets was entered for the $500,000 Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m) on November 25 and the $1m Group 1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) on December 9 when initial nominations were released earlier this month.

Trainer Steve Wolfe said his youngster would now head towards the WA Guineas and was unlikely to start again before the three-year-old feature.

The So Secret gelding is one of 81 current nominations in the field but Saturday’s win has him firmly in the frame for a start in the final field.

“He is a really nice horse and looks to have huge potential,” Wolfe said. “I haven’t sat down and worked out the plan with him.

“We’ll head towards the Guineas now, he probably won’t race again before that we’ll just tick him over.”

Wolfe was also delighted with the fighting second of War Jeune in the Guinness Handicap (1400m) on Saturday, going down by a neck to War God.

The five-year-old has run second at his past four starts and is among the initial entries for the $1m Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) on November 25.

Wolfe’s Arrum Boy ran the fastest final 600m sectional in Saturday’s Listed $100,000 Belgravia Stakes (1200m), finishing seventh after rattling home from last.

Three Secrets’ triumph was a fifth metropolitan victory for Wolfe already this season after Boxonlucy has won twice to go with Arrum Boy and Chasing Chaos also saluting.

“Every horse we had raced well on Saturday,” Wolfe said.

“We’ve had five winners in town already which is fantastic and three trialled super (yesterday) so there is a lot to look forward.”