08-08-2025
Thesecretadversary lands the spoils in the Coolmore Stud Churchill Stake
Thesecretadversary was not winning out of turn when taking the Coolmore Stud Churchill Stakes, though it was a fair achievement by Fozzy Stack's colt to make that breakthrough in a listed race.
Regular rider Seamie Heffernan restrained his mount early and sat in fourth place as Time Bender set a good pace. Easy-to-back favourite Brussels got first crack at the leader, but Thesecretadversary came wide and fast to land the spoils with a degree of authority.
Runner-up on all three previous starts, including in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot, he is out of Too Soon To Panic, who won a maiden and a listed race for Stack, and his granddam, Scream Blue Murder, won at listed and Group 3 level for Tommy Stack.
'It was a good performance,' said the winning trainer. 'The last day was a bit of a mess, though I'd say the winner isn't too bad. There was no gallop, and the ground was soft at Ayr, but thankfully he did it well today.
'I'll speak to everyone involved and see where we might go, but there's a valuable Grade One in Canada on the same day as the National Stakes and that might be an option.
'The family has been lucky for us - it all comes from Scream Blue Murder - and thanks to the Rupert and Magnier families for sending them to us.'
A younger full sister to the winner is the next to look forward to.
Stella Alpina finally and deservedly got off the mark for her career by taking the opener, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden, and her trainer, Willie McCreery, is hopeful that she can develop into a smart sprinter.
This was her first run over the minimum distance and she had the pace to make the running and the ability to find extra to see off Shadow Of The Moon, who made a good race of it.
The Junction Gastro Bar & Guesthouse Handicap had a distinctly open look to it, but Ballysax Lil' Mick, trained by Katy Brown and ridden by Killian Leonard, found a way to get off the mark at the 22nd time of asking. An Laochmor set a strong pace but the winner was comfortable chasing it, and picked up nicely to win quite handsomely.
Mallavelly, who joined Ger Lyons this year, won for the third time in five outings for current connections by taking the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies' Handicap. James Ryan timed his challenge well and while third-placed Shavasi didn't enjoy the best of luck in running, and fourth-placed Greatest Drama hung rather than going forward, the winner had a little to spare as they hit the line, and is likely to win again.
Trainer Andy Slattery continues to saddle winners aplenty and when Shahada Ace, ridden by his son, Andy, ran away with the Don Moloney Plumbing & Heating Ltd Handicap, it was the stable's seventh winner in 11 days.
Only three runners went to post for the Cregan Electrical Ltd Race and Nautical Force, who has been a model of consistency this season, won for the second time in his career. Last-time-out winner Crypto Force made most of the running, but Ben Coen was content to sit behind the leader before launching his late effort to land the spoils.
The father-and-daughter team of Paul and Ciara Flynn earned the meeting's final trip to the winner's enclosure when Ms Messi finished strongly to take the Gain The Advantage Series (Ladies) Handicap.
Formerly an apprentice, the rider took time away but recently returned as an amateur and this horse, owned by friends of the family, Dermot Murphy and Eileen Farrelly, gave her a first winner since 2022.
