Secret Art

Secret Art did well to win a decent three-year-old seven-furlong handicap at Sandown on Saturday.

Ceelo went off at a strong pace and had the field well strung out around the home turn, and Secret Art came under pressure quite early in the home straight. He didn’t have the clearest of passages either, and it looked like he was in trouble when he was squeezed out between horses just over two furlongs from home. But he picked up nicely when pulled towards the outside just over a furlong out, and he finished really strongly to win well.

Although just three quarters of a length covered the first three home, this looks like strong form. The runner-up, Indignant, had chased home Annecdote on her previous run and that horse went and won the Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot on Wednesday. The third horse, Burning Blaze, had finished a close fifth in a hot six-furlong handicap at Newmarket on his reappearance previously, while the fourth horse, the well-backed Pythagorean, was looking for a hat-trick after two impressive wins at Leicester.

Secret Art is a big, strong galloping horse who looks well suited by a strong gallop. It may have been only the combination of a fast pace, softening ground and a stiff finish that enabled him win here over seven furlongs. He had won over a mile at Nottingham on his previous run and he should improve again for the step back up in trip now.

He was a fairly narrow winner here so he could be under-rated a little next time he runs. He has been raised just 5lb, which is fair, he has a really willing attitude, and he will be of interest whenever he runs next, especially if he steps up in trip.

15th June 2013

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