Coolmore Stud Stakes: What the jockeys said after In Secret's win

Here's what the jockeys - and winning trainer James Cummings - had to say after Godolphin filly In Secret dominated the $2 million Coolmore Stud Stakes.

Winning Jockey: James McDonald (In Secret)

In the lead up: "I rode her up the straight in a trial and she gave me the best feel. I said to James, clearly she is tailor made for the straight and I reckon we will see something special.

"She was ready to launch on Friday when she trialled, I had that much in hand it wasn't funny. She loved the straight, I thought just jot her down for the Coolmore."

In the barriers: "There was just a muck around at the start, Economics had to come out again, it was just a bit of a shambles really, we were in there a long time. I was in there longer than I wanted to be.

"She got a bit fractious (in the gates). She popped in the air and I thought 'God damn' but she mustered really quickly and she put herself into a good spot even thought I was travelling like a winner but she picks up, picks up and showed a good turn-of-foot.

"She was just on song really, she was ready to go, she jumped in the air but she's a good filly."

During the race: "I knew my job, I had to muster to get a spot pretty quickly instead of gliding into that spot, it was very important to get that spot for my winning chances, as it turned out she won by a margin."

Dominant filly: "I've been confident with her but a bit hesitant how the track was going to play. She just put them to the sword. She's a dominant filly."

In Secret wins the Coolmore Stud Stakes.#DerbyDay #MelbCupCarnival pic.twitter.com/jJKbfopY2l

— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) October 29, 2022

Beaten Jockeys

Michael Dee (C'est Magique, 2nd, 2L): "Massive effort. She's got a bright future, that's food sure, and the further the better for her."

Craig Newitt (Buenos Noches, 3rd, 3L): "Super run from a super colt. He followed Jacquinot, but he just didn't really drag me into the race enough. He's a Group 1 star in the making."

Jamie Mott (Lofty Strike, 4th, 3.3L): "Really happy with him, he's definitely a Group 1 horse but I just think we might need to put a bit of headgear on him because that's twice this preparation he's dropped the bridle and hit a flat spot. You just can't afford to do that in these races, so a bit of headgear will help sharpen him up."

Craig Williams (Coolangatta, 5th, 3.6L): "She's so brilliant, she's so effective, but at the 1200 metres at Flemington against that calibre of horse we were just a little bit vulnerable the last little bit. But very gallant and it's been a great preparation."

Chad Schofield (Economics, 6th, 3.7L): "He ran well, he's just quite immature still. He needs to grow up a little bit mentally but he's very talented."

Ben Melham (Best Of Bordeaux, 7th, 3.8L): "Ran well, but he's had a hectic prep and probably come to the end of it. He was a bit green up the straight and will be improved by the experience."

Josh Parr (Queen Of The Ball, 8th, 3.9L): "Very good effort. Seeing as she found the drop, I was just forced to absorb pressure earlier than ideal."

Damian Lane (Jacquinot, 9th, 4L): "Ran well."

John Allen (Sejardan, 10th, 4.2L): "He ran well, just the back up might have caused him to race a bit flat."

William Buick (Meridius, 11th, 4.5L): "He ran well, coming back from a mile. It was a good run from him."

Mark Zahra (Grand Impact, 12th, 5.25L): "Ran well but he got a bit lost down the straight."

Damien Oliver (Nettuno, 13th, 8.75L): "He got tightened at the start and just never got into a good rhythm. I followed the winner but just wasn't happy with the way I was travelling."

Jye McNeil (Doull, 14th, 12.5L): "Paced himself better today but was disappointing."

Brett Prebble (Custodian, 15th, 13.5L): "He was just lost down there. He needs a bend and a drop down in class."

Damien Thornton (Great Barrier Reef, 16th, 14.5L): "He'll be better next prep."

Daniel Moor (Bews, last, 20L): "He's a lovely type with nice ability but he's not applying himself."

Winning Trainer: James Cummings

On the Coolmore: "It's a good feeling winning that race. The Coolmore Stud Stakes has become the Golden Slipper of the Spring Carnival for three-year-olds.

"I've had horses that have won Golden Roses before and you dream about winning a Coolmore because you have to go to the next level to go to Derby Day and perform on the big stage over six furlongs and at set weights against the best."

Missing The Everest: "About four or five weeks before The Everest I was asked what horse would I recommend for The Everest.

"They said, if it's not going to be Anamoe, who is it going to be?

"I said well I think it is going to be one of our best horses on the farm. They asked who was I talking about?

"I said, this horse In Secret is one of the best horses we've got out there and she could run a race. You watch that race today and watch what she did to Jacquinot there, you tell me that she wouldn't have given them a scare.

"Regardless of that, we've won the Coolmore and we kept her on ice for this race. She's probably going to be The Everest favourite for next year."

Pre-race conversation with J-Mac: "Dominic Beirne and I go through the race /in great detail and we give advice to our riders - we don't give instructions - and if we can give them one or two per-cent extra to get them over the line then it can make a big difference in these races.

"It is those critical decisions at the right time. You don't win those races by mistake. Any last detail before the race, we talk about, and we give James every bit of confidence that he's thinking about the right things in the race and the right horses to follow.

"She got knocked down in the barriers, she got knocked down soon after and she still had a horse laying on her at the 450 (metre mark), this horse is a machine and it was a pleasure to watch."

Back to 1200m: "She was five weeks off from the Golden Rose, she's just a weapon, she put them away, drawing away on the line. You don't see that often in the Coolmore, this is like the Golden Slipper of the Spring carnival for the three-year-olds.

"We bided our time with In Secret and the five weeks off hasn't fazed her."

Missing with Bivouac: "We came so close with Bivouac a few years ago who was bang on for the day but it just poured rain and he went from being favourite to second favourite behind Exceedance and I'd love to have that day over on a day like this."

On James McDonald: "He's only ridden four winners from six rides today."