Thesecretadversary enters Classic equation with taking Leopardstown win

Fozzy Stack could have a Classic contender on his hands after Thesecretadversary surged to a taking victory in the Ballylinch Stud Red Rocks Stakes at Leopardstown.

Narrowly beaten in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot last year, he scooped Listed honours on home soil at Tipperary before ending his two-year-old campaign in Grade One company at Woodbine.

Sent off at 6-1 for the Group Three event that has been dominated by Aidan O’Brien in recent years, the son of St Mark’s Basilica broke away quickly, with Seamie Heffernan always holding on to plenty of horse as he travelled in behind 4-1 joint-favourite Dorset and Group One winner Power Blue.

Entering the straight it soon looked likely he would play a role in the finish and he stormed on stylishly in the final furlong to record a two-and-a-half-length success over Power Blue, seeing his odds for the Betfred 2000 Guineas cut to 25-1 by Paddy Power in the process.

“He did it well. He was a bit unlucky in Canada the last day that he wasn’t a bit closer. He’s in everything so we’ll have a chat and see where we go. He stays well,” said Stack.

“He’s been working well. He ran a good race at Ascot last year and he won that race in Tipperary well, he beat a horse (Brussels) that was second in the Middle Park, so he has a fair level of form.”

He went on: “He was a little bit keen today. I always thought he might get a mile and a quarter, but looking at that I’d probably say a mile. Not saying that we won’t try a mile and a quarter at some stage.

“He’s in every Guineas, bar the Italian! I also entered him in a million dollar race at Keeneland the same day as the English Guineas, but that probably won’t happen now. I’ll talk to the owners.”