KEY POINTS:
Lucky Secret continued on his winning way by making it seven-straight wins in the Sir John Monash Stakes, but celebrations were subdued when it was found he had bled.
Trainer Tony Vasil was talking of running the brilliant Rubiton rising 4-year-old in the Group One $400,000 Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley on September 15, and hopefully earning an invitation to start in the Hong Kong International Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin in December, before the disappointing news reached him.
Lucky Secret will not get the chance to lengthen his winning sequence for some time as he faces a mandatory three-month ban from racing for bleeding at Caulfield in Melbourne yesterday.
Managing owner Rod Lyons summed it up best when he said it was exciting watching Lucky Secret win at both his first test in a weight-for-age event and at Listed level in the 1100m feature sprint.
"The aftermath was a bit sad but hopefully he'll show the courage that Sir John Monash did," Lyons said, referring to the famous Australian World War I military leader.
Ridden by Danny Brereton, Lucky Secret, the favourite, led early but was headed by Marwin Gold and Live In Vain before racing clear in the straight to score by a length from Live In Vain with Honalee just a nose away third. There was a blanket finish for the minor placings. Vormista was fourth with Stanzout a short head back fifth.
Dual Monash Stakes winner Super Elegant was running in the Monash for the fifth successive year but finished last of the 10 runners. The rising 10-year-old was third in 2003, won in 2004 and 2005 and was runner-up to Sassbee last year.
* Gold Coast trainer Bob Sutton ended a long black-type drought when the underrated Daring Fortune scored an upset win in the Listed Tattersall's Mile at Eagle Farm in Brisbane.
Daring Fortune, ridden a treat by Jason Holder, stormed home to down Kiwi galloper Atapi by a short half-head in the 1600m feature with Umaprince a further three-quarters of a length away third.
Daring Fortune was bred by Sutton's wife Mary who raced the 4-year-old's mother, Godzevir, a half-sister to Bellzevir who won the Group Two Qantas Cup in 1994. His next race has not been decided.
- AAP
