Whispered Secret wins Fernhill Handicap
Talented filly Whispered Secret could follow in the hoofsteps of stablemate Prized Icon after taking out the Listed Fernhill Handicap at Randwick.
Trainer James Cummings won the Fernhill a year ago with the colt Prized Icon who then backed up a week later to win the Group One Champagne Stakes over the same 1600m course.
The Champagne is an option for Whispered Secret who defied a three-wide run to win Saturday’s race by 1-1/4 lengths in her fourth race start, coming off a maiden win against older horses at Newcastle.
The Gooree Stud-bred and owned Whispered Secret has family ties to Victoria Derby winner Prized Icon, as Whispered Secret’s grand-dam Matras is a half-sister to the colt.
Jockey Jason Collett believes Whispered Secret is a filly with plenty of scope and said a decision on going to the Champagne would be up to the Cummings stable.
“She’s got a lot of scope. She’s going to grow a bit more. But why not have a crack,” Collett said.
Collett said after Whispered Secret landed three wide early he just had to get the filly to relax midfield before striding closer to the lead coming to the home turn.
Whispered Secret ($4.40) hit the front 200m out and was holding runner-up Toga Picta ($8) on the line with another 1-1/2 lengths to leader All Too Huiying ($11) third.
“I could hear them coming at about the 150-metre mark but then the next thing I seemed to have them held pretty easily at the 50 (metres),” Collett said.