Dubai: Godolphin’s Secret Number, who was unlucky not to clinch a spot in last Tuesday’s Emirates Melbourne Cup, finished a game second in the Group 3 Queen’s Cup on the final day of Melbourne’s Spring Carnival at Flemington on Saturday.
Trained by Saeed Bin Surour at Newmarket in England, the former UAE Derby runner-up came to Australia hoping to qualify for the Melbourne showpiece which was won by 100-1 outsider Prince of Penzance, but as he did not make the frame, was instead diverted to the nine-race meeting which featured five Group races.
In what was his first Australian start, Secret Number started the 2,600 metre race as the popular favourite but had no answer to the staying prowess of ex-England trained Dandino, who won by 1¾ length.
“He got a squeeze at the 200m when the winner laid in a bit,” Secret Number’s jockey James McDonald said. “We lost some momentum but after looking at the film it was clear it wasn’t bad enough to change anything.”
The Bin Surour trainee was hoping to give Godolphin a third success in the race after Hatha Anna in 2001 and Fantastic Love in 2004.
Henry Plumptre, Godolphin’s Racing Manager in Australia said said Secret Number would return to Dubai on Thursday and is likely to run in at Hong Kong International meeting in December.
Meanwhile, Gloriette announced herself to be a star of the future when she finished third in the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate on the same card.
A diminutive filly by Lonhro from the Redoute’s Choice mare Viennese, Gloriette is closely related to two of Australia’s most successful young stallions, Snitzel and Hinchinbrook.
“She’s shown us a lot and she ran right up to what we’ve seen at home,” said trainer John O’Shea.
McDonald, who was in the saddle added: “She really got going in the last 200m.
“The good thing was that she did it all without being pushed. She’s got great manners and really good ability.”
