Ecureuil Secret
Ecureuil Secret was a revelation in the 10-furlong handicap at Epsom on Oaks day. Prominent from early, he was keener than ideal through the early stages of the race, but he travelled well down the hill up on the outside of the leader Mutaawid. He came under a ride from Oisin Orr just inside the three-furlong marker, but he picked up well, hit the front at the two-furlong pole and stayed on well from there all the way to the line, coming away from his rivals through the final furlong to win by four lengths in the end.
This looked like a hot handicap beforehand, and there were several in behind who are also worth keeping in mind for the future, including Akecheta, who stayed on well to take second place, and Defiance, who came from a fair way back to finish fourth, on his first run since Royal Ascot last year. But this race was run at a fast pace in which the hold-up horses kept on well. The horses who finished second, third and fourth behind Ecureuil Secret were 10th, seventh and 13th respectively passing the three-furlong pole, and the winner's finishing speed was just over 109% of his overall speed, which is lower than the Race IQ par of 112.19%. Richard Fahey's horse did really well to win as well as he did from his prominent early position, given that he was a little keen through the early part of the race.
This was Ecureuil Secret's first run since he finished third over a mile and a half on heavy ground in a listed race at Deauville last October. Winner of his maiden on his racecourse debut for Edward O'Grady over a mile on heavy ground at Leopardstown in April last year, and third in the Gallinule Stakes and the International Stakes, this was his second run for Richard Fahey and it was his first run since being gelded. It was only the seventh run of his life, so he obviously has the potential to progress again. The handicapper raised him by 9lb to a mark of 112, but his handicap days may be numbered. He will be interesting again now in a listed race or a Group 3 race, and he could go even higher. All his form is on ground with at least a little bit of an ease in it, and he will be of particular interest when the ground softens again.
Epsom, 6th June 2025
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