Secret Status overcame a sluggish start and looked a star in the making when she debuted to win today’s $80,400 listed Cinderella Stakes at Morphettville.
A daughter of King Cugat, Secret Status came with a brilliant burst in the straight to firstly make ground and then peel of the fence for a strong win.
The filly was ridden to victory by Clare Lindop and her co-trainers Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas were pleasantly surprised with the success.
“We gave her a jump out the other day and she came out awkwardly,” Macdonald said.
“The ideal thing was to go to a barrier draw – but seeing this was a black type race we thought we’d see how she would go.”
“She’s always shown us plenty,” Macdonald added.
“I think she’s got a lot of potential. It’s hard to say. But I do think she’s got a lot of potential.”
Macdonald said he wasn’t sure what would be next for Secret Status.
“I hadn’t looked further ahead than this race. Who knows where we’ll head next. She looks to have a nice future though.”
Senior part owner and breeder Harry Perks was a happy man in the winner’s stall.
“I bred her and offered her at the sale here in Adelaide last year and she didn’t make her $10,000 reserve so I ended up keeping her and the rest is history.”
“Her dam is by Masterclass and that’s why I sent her to King Cugat – it’s the same cross as one of our good mares Devil Moon,” Perks added.
Secret Status ($5.50-$11) raced clear late to beat Gonski Girl ($4-$4.80) by a length.
Debutant Zest a Second ($15-$41) ran an eye catching third, another two lengths back.
The favourite Pecuniary ($2.80-$2.20 fav) battled in the straight and beat just one runner home.
Secret Status is by King Cugat, a former outstanding international galloper who is now the sire of no fewer than 236 winners – 16 of which have been successful at black type level.
King Cugat, also the sire of the Group One Turnbull Stakes winner Devil Moon, is now standing in South Australia – at River’s End Stud near Wellington.
Secret Status’ dam Change of Class won five races and earned over $130,000 during her career – four of her wins were on city tracks – three of them in Melbourne.
Her dam in turn, the Danzatore mare Our Lucky Change, is a half sister to the stakes performers Toy Image, Lucky Witch (dam of Lucky Diva, Spirit of Westbury, Duke of Westbury and Gina Lollawitcha) and Luck Alive (dam of Lucky Tycoon).
Other stakes winners in the family include Group One winning sprinter and sire Century and the triple group winner Catechuchu.
Mill Park, who offered Secret Status at last year’s Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, are represented by a quality draft for this year’s edition which kicks off tomorrow at 11am (SA time).
Winner: Secret Status (King Cugat-Change of Class)
Race: SAJC Cinderella Stakes LR (1200m)
Passed for: $7,500
Sale: 2010 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale
Vendor: Mill Park (As Agent)
Reserve: $10,000
Owner(s): BH Perks, Ms AM Clough, LJ Perks & Mrs EA Perks
Trainer(s): Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas (Morphettville)
