James Anthony Stack, commonly known as “Fozzy”, has had a tremendous few weeks with two Royal Ascot winners and now a European Group 1.
Thesecretadversary proved his Jersey Stakes win was no fluke as he landed the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat on Sunday. Despite coming up short in Group 1 company before, he successfully made all, fending off the late challenging True Love. Last year’s Prix Jean-Luc Lagadere second, Nighttime, followed home in third. Commonwealth Cup sixth Samangan filled the frame, while French 2000 Guineas winner Rayif could only manage fifth.
Speaking to the Press Association after the race, via France Galop, Fozzy Stack said: “Christophe Soumillon gave him a superb ride.
“We were a little concerned about the pace of the race. He told me, ‘I think we’ll have to go on because nobody else seems willing to do it.’ I replied, ‘Go ahead.’
Everything worked out perfectly. He had pulled too hard in the English Guineas, and in the Irish equivalent he never got a clear run.”
A tendency to take a keen hold has often led to his detriment. But a forcing ride from the deputising Christophe Soumillon paid dividends.
“We have always believed he was a good horse” continued Stack.
“When he then won the Jersey Stakes over seven furlongs at Ascot, Seamie Heffernan, who rode him that day, said he would be even better over six furlongs. Christophe Soumillon said exactly the same thing today.”
“I’m convinced he still has further improvement to come” – Christophe Soumillon
Christophe Soumillon won the race for the third time, following on from Thunder Snow in 2017 and Woodshauna last season. The Belgium said: “Thesecretadversary is a superb horse. He’s tough and very straightforward to ride. The other day at Ascot, he was already beating some very good horses.
“Everything went perfectly throughout the race. I was never really under any pressure and, when I asked him to quicken, he responded extremely well. In the closing stages, I had to ask him for everything he had left. Because I could feel Ryan coming back strongly aboard True Love. I think seven furlongs is really the limit of his stamina. Over six furlongs, however, I believe he would be just as effective.
“The logical next step could be the Prix Maurice de Gheest here at Deauville. But there are also some excellent six-furlong races in England. First, we’ll see how he comes out of this race. He is a horse with an outstanding temperament. He’s a beautiful individual physically, and I’m convinced he still has further improvement to come.”
Thesecretadversary holds a number of entries, including in the Irish Champion Stakes. But, reading between the lines, he’s unlikely to step up beyond seven furlongs again, and his entry in the Betfair Sprint Cup could come too fruition.