Adkins aims to double down on success in town with a change in luck
Adkins, 27, won the listed Lord Mayors Cup at Rosehill with Peter Snowden-trained Touristic, after an earlier win with Joe Pride's King's Secret.
Touristic, which had not won in almost a year, gave Adkins a welcome stakes victory after a tough run chasing city success.
He said a change in focus this season on provincial racing had paid dividends, especially during the winter when leading city riders head to Queensland. Adkins has 56 winners in NSW this season, compared to 37 in each of the previous two.
'It was a great day,' Adkins said. 'Any doubles in town are great, especially with a Listed winner, but [after] the last couple of years, it was certainly a great day.
'I had people messaging, saying well done and that sort of thing, which was great to see. I was very appreciative.'
He links again with Snowden for Saturday's feature, the Bob Charley AO Stakes (1100m), this time with Fire Star, which was third last-start in the listed Ortensia Stakes (1100m) at Scone.
Adkins, who won on Fire Star three times last preparation, had the four-year-old gelding forward and three wide without cover from gate seven. Fire Star boxed on well to finish third to inside runners Caballus and The Novelist.
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Courier-Mail
12-07-2025
- Courier-Mail
Trainer Joseph Pride finds the Secret to latest rising star
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Private Eye's little brother King's Secret enhanced his growing reputation as an emerging star in his own right with another super sprinting performance at Royal Randwick on Saturday. The Joseph Pride-trained galloper continued his remarkable preparation when scoring his fourth victory in six starts in the Petaluma Benchmark 72 Handicap (1100m). Jockey Andrew Adkins has forged a hugely successful partnership with King's Secret throughout his preparation and produced a peach from an awkward alley to get the gelding home again. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'Joe and the team keep raising the bar and he keeps saying how high,' Adkins said. 'He is going super this preparation. He has really come to and is maturing. 'I was a bit worried going to the gates, that is the calmest he has ever been, I thought if he'd had enough or not. 'It is just him maturing and switching on and learning to the do the right things and all the basics. 'He's got the hang out if and is winning with style now.' King's Secret had been beaten two starts ago but has bounced back to his best in a big way with victories at Rosehill Gardens and Randwick at his past two. 'You have to take your hat off to Joe, he knows his horses so well,' Adkins said. 'Two back sort of went amiss, I said I don't know what's going on with him but Joe said we had him too fresh. 'They took him back home and sorted him out. Gave him a bit of work and he came back and won.' King's Secret had to give weight to his rivals with the topweight of 60.5kg but it did little to stunt his momentum. He three-wide early but Adkins was able to put himself in the perfect spot, one out and one back. • Tomato Toastie triumphs in thrilling finish King's Secret ($6.50) let down powerfully from the furlong pole, holding off the Bjorn Baker-trained Stardeel ($3.90 favourite) by a half-length with Godolphin's Celerity ($6.50) close up in third. 'He puts his best foot forward and Andrew rode him brilliantly today,' Pride's stable representative Orla Pearl said. 'He knows him so well now. 'Before the race he said, 'we won't be riding the race, we'll be riding the horse' and that's exactly what he's done. 'And the horse, he is just so versatile and he has proved that.' 'It's impressive. To see a mare throw horses like that again and again and to have the family in the stable, it's something special.' King's Secret is a son of Shalaa out of Confidential Queen, which produced Private Eye. Private Eye has been a revelation for Pride and Proven Thoroughbreds throughout his career with more than $12 million in prizemoney earned. The son of Al Maher was placed in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap during the Brisbane winter carnival. • Maher smells more success with unbeaten filly Just how high King's Secret reaches remains to be seen but Adkins, who had an earlier winner aboard Pensativa, is adamant the future is bright. 'He has carried topweight there against some good gallopers and has done a terrific job so I really don't know (what his ceiling is),' he said. 'It will be interesting to see after a spell how he develops and matures again and how he comes back, then we could probably tell.' His latest victory seals the BOBS horse the year crown for the stable and owners for consecutive years after In Flight claimed the title by winning the same race. King's Secret has banked $73,125 in bonuses this season. Pearl confirmed King's Secret will now be headed for a well-deserved spell with a fantastic record of four wins and three placings from eight starts. Pride, who was in Melbourne to watch In Flight in the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes, enjoyed a quick fire double in Sydney with Aberlour also scoring in the Toyota Forklifts Benchmark 78 Handicap (1800m). It was Pride's third Saturday metropolitan double in the past four weeks with Estadio Mestalla and Storm The Ramparts both scoring for the stable last weekend. His in-form galloper Headley Grange will attempt to qualify for the $3 million Big Dance when he contests Sunday's South Grafton Cup at Grafton. Originally published as Joseph Pride's young sprinter King's Secret continues hot form with impressive win at Randwick
The Age
27-06-2025
- The Age
Tips and race-by-race guide for Rosehill on Saturday
3. Livin' Thing looks to have a bit of scope about him to take a few more steps and he was quite dynamic in winning in midweek company a couple of weeks ago. This is up in class, but he drops nicely in the weights and promises to get another good run behind the speed. Gets away from wet tracks now but nothing there to suggest he needs them to fire. 5. King's Secret looked good winning a month ago, then potentially had excuses as he fizzed up behind the gates when a battling fifth two weeks back. If you can forgive that run he has to be a major chance. 1. Spywire is a big query first up since running a much improved race at the Sunshine Coast in January. He looked very smart as a two-year-old and his trials have been handy. First run as a gelding, too. Market a decent pointer, but no surprise if he's right in the finish. 6. Rantan can do a lot better than what she showed when she was in the market first up behind Lulumon at Gosford about seven weeks ago. Dry track is a big plus for her, so if she has any luck she can feature. How to play it: Livin' Thing to win. Race 6 – 1.55PM SCHWEPPES HANDICAP (1500 METRES) 7. Mickey's Medal can easily continue on his winning way after finding his groove at this track and trip in his past two starts. He's creeping up in class now but stays down in the weights with the claim and has a great racing style that usually has him just on the speed and in a striking position. He'll get that chance again with a noted front-runner drawn wide. 1. Green Shadows backs up after quite a respectable effort in the Civic Stakes last week and isn't badly treated with the claim. He only has to run up to his recent form to be competitive back to a benchmark 88. 2. Thunderlips is impossible to leave out, and he should be right around the mark again. Very well ridden when scoring at Randwick three weeks ago, landing in a good spot off an outside gate and bursting through late. Best form is on softer ground, but that's the only negative you could find. 4. Step Aside beat King Of Roseau first up, then a month between runs, and he ran on without threatening into third at Sandown. Back home with a similar gap, and he's always a chance in this sort of race. How to play it: Mickey's Medal to win. Race 7 – 2.35PM IRRESISTIBLE POOLS STAYER'S CUP (2400 METRES) 8. Casual Connection is as honest as they come, and that's a big head start in a field of stayers that are a little inconsistent. He's the only horse in this that has won a race in the current preparation. Dominant on a heavy track at Randwick two runs back, taking off before the turn and running them into the ground, then not disgraced behind Tympanist when up in weight. Has the luxury of 53kg, and while he'd be more dangerous on a wet track, what he'll strike here should be no disadvantage. 6. Mormona showed a glimpse when finishing off nicely late in the Winter Cup at this track and over this distance second up from a spell. He is about 600 days since his last win, but might be able to settle closer this time and have a better chance. 11. Awesome Wonder was more than a month between runs when safely held at 2000m two weeks ago, but she is very much a 2400m horse and is capable of improving. 4. Speycaster has run well in two starts at this track since returning from Victoria and a repeat of that last-start fourth in the Winter Cup is good enough to have him in the finish somewhere. How to play it: Casual Connection to win. Race 8 – 3.15PM ASAHI SUPER DRY HANDICAP (1800 METRES) 13. Kazalark might be just about ready to fire fourth up after two years off the scene. That's based on the massive improvement he showed last time out at Canterbury where he made a heap of late ground before running onto heels and easing up very late when fifth over the 1550m. He drops 4kg, draws well and gets up to a nice distance for him. Would be surprised if he doesn't run well at each-way odds. 10. Piggyback might well be more effective on wetter tracks, but it is also possible she just didn't come up as well as she has this time around when unplaced in three summer runs. Summer good tracks can be very different to winter ones. She was excellent at Randwick three weeks ago when just beaten in a slowly run race. Trip suits and she's a big chance. 12. Federer was a drifter in betting and did look a little one paced when working home fairly behind Thunderlips at Randwick first up. Given he's jumping the 400m in trip here suggests the stable thought similar. Has shown talent, of course, winning his first two and can't be condemned on one run. 7. Impunity might be close to a win after quite a nice return at 1500m behind Mickey's Medal. Ran some nice late sectionals and was just warming up. Big watch on 1. Hutchence first up for Chris Waller. His UK form is over 2400m plus, but you'd expect him to show something fresh at 1800m. How to play it: Kazalark each way. Race 9 – 3.50PM TOYOTA FORKLIFTS W J MCKELL CUP (2000 METRES) 3. Elamaz is easily the most interesting horse racing all day at Rosehill. French import that is already a stakes winner and is yet to finish worse than second in seven starts. He profiles a little like stablemate Eliyass, which won first up around this time last year, then went onto a spring campaign. This gelding hasn't raced beyond 1600m, which is a major difference, but he's had three trials, and you'd expect him to be on the pace. If he's above average and has settled in, he wins this race. 4. Touristic has a much better set-up than what ultimately unfolded in the Winter Cup where he started $4.40. It was a slowly run race, and he's finished on well, but without ever looking a chance. Back to 2000m suits and draws to make a lie of last start. If Elamaz doesn't fire, he's the one to beat. 2. Loch Eagle is on trial at 2000m, but he does it third up on the back of a strong win at the Randwick mile. He is arguably more effective on wetter tracks but just that little bit of give may be enough with the extra trip. Usually competitive and can be here. 6. Glory Daze had his chance when favourite in the Winter Cup, though he may have been a little further back than ideal given how the race was run. Another who relishes the very wet ground, but he's hard fit and can run well. How to play it: Elamaz to win. Loading Race 10 – 4.30PM CHANDON HANDICAP (1200 METRES) 13. Lady Extreme steps up in class, but she was impressive a month ago mowing down Let's Go Again to win a Midway first up off no official trial. She's had some time to get over that run and finds a race that should have genuine speed, and she's come up with barrier one. Still lightly raced for a five-year-old and on the way up, she can measure up to this company. 12. Snack Bar has his 13th different rider as the blinkers go on following his second placing behind King Of Roseau last time out. He did look to have his chance, but perhaps coming back 100m with the shades on he's worth another chance. 2. Eye Of The Fire is a consistent type resuming, and he did win his first two starts last preparation before continuing to race well. Likely gets back, but he's been able to handle that style of racing in the past. 10. Liberty State was awesome when storming down the middle to win easily first up a month ago, and it will be interesting to see if she can reproduce that. The gap between runs gives her that chance and a drier track is no issue. How to play it: Lady Extreme to win.
Sydney Morning Herald
27-06-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Tips and race-by-race guide for Rosehill on Saturday
3. Livin' Thing looks to have a bit of scope about him to take a few more steps and he was quite dynamic in winning in midweek company a couple of weeks ago. This is up in class, but he drops nicely in the weights and promises to get another good run behind the speed. Gets away from wet tracks now but nothing there to suggest he needs them to fire. 5. King's Secret looked good winning a month ago, then potentially had excuses as he fizzed up behind the gates when a battling fifth two weeks back. If you can forgive that run he has to be a major chance. 1. Spywire is a big query first up since running a much improved race at the Sunshine Coast in January. He looked very smart as a two-year-old and his trials have been handy. First run as a gelding, too. Market a decent pointer, but no surprise if he's right in the finish. 6. Rantan can do a lot better than what she showed when she was in the market first up behind Lulumon at Gosford about seven weeks ago. Dry track is a big plus for her, so if she has any luck she can feature. How to play it: Livin' Thing to win. Race 6 – 1.55PM SCHWEPPES HANDICAP (1500 METRES) 7. Mickey's Medal can easily continue on his winning way after finding his groove at this track and trip in his past two starts. He's creeping up in class now but stays down in the weights with the claim and has a great racing style that usually has him just on the speed and in a striking position. He'll get that chance again with a noted front-runner drawn wide. 1. Green Shadows backs up after quite a respectable effort in the Civic Stakes last week and isn't badly treated with the claim. He only has to run up to his recent form to be competitive back to a benchmark 88. 2. Thunderlips is impossible to leave out, and he should be right around the mark again. Very well ridden when scoring at Randwick three weeks ago, landing in a good spot off an outside gate and bursting through late. Best form is on softer ground, but that's the only negative you could find. 4. Step Aside beat King Of Roseau first up, then a month between runs, and he ran on without threatening into third at Sandown. Back home with a similar gap, and he's always a chance in this sort of race. How to play it: Mickey's Medal to win. Race 7 – 2.35PM IRRESISTIBLE POOLS STAYER'S CUP (2400 METRES) 8. Casual Connection is as honest as they come, and that's a big head start in a field of stayers that are a little inconsistent. He's the only horse in this that has won a race in the current preparation. Dominant on a heavy track at Randwick two runs back, taking off before the turn and running them into the ground, then not disgraced behind Tympanist when up in weight. Has the luxury of 53kg, and while he'd be more dangerous on a wet track, what he'll strike here should be no disadvantage. 6. Mormona showed a glimpse when finishing off nicely late in the Winter Cup at this track and over this distance second up from a spell. He is about 600 days since his last win, but might be able to settle closer this time and have a better chance. 11. Awesome Wonder was more than a month between runs when safely held at 2000m two weeks ago, but she is very much a 2400m horse and is capable of improving. 4. Speycaster has run well in two starts at this track since returning from Victoria and a repeat of that last-start fourth in the Winter Cup is good enough to have him in the finish somewhere. How to play it: Casual Connection to win. Race 8 – 3.15PM ASAHI SUPER DRY HANDICAP (1800 METRES) 13. Kazalark might be just about ready to fire fourth up after two years off the scene. That's based on the massive improvement he showed last time out at Canterbury where he made a heap of late ground before running onto heels and easing up very late when fifth over the 1550m. He drops 4kg, draws well and gets up to a nice distance for him. Would be surprised if he doesn't run well at each-way odds. 10. Piggyback might well be more effective on wetter tracks, but it is also possible she just didn't come up as well as she has this time around when unplaced in three summer runs. Summer good tracks can be very different to winter ones. She was excellent at Randwick three weeks ago when just beaten in a slowly run race. Trip suits and she's a big chance. 12. Federer was a drifter in betting and did look a little one paced when working home fairly behind Thunderlips at Randwick first up. Given he's jumping the 400m in trip here suggests the stable thought similar. Has shown talent, of course, winning his first two and can't be condemned on one run. 7. Impunity might be close to a win after quite a nice return at 1500m behind Mickey's Medal. Ran some nice late sectionals and was just warming up. Big watch on 1. Hutchence first up for Chris Waller. His UK form is over 2400m plus, but you'd expect him to show something fresh at 1800m. How to play it: Kazalark each way. Race 9 – 3.50PM TOYOTA FORKLIFTS W J MCKELL CUP (2000 METRES) 3. Elamaz is easily the most interesting horse racing all day at Rosehill. French import that is already a stakes winner and is yet to finish worse than second in seven starts. He profiles a little like stablemate Eliyass, which won first up around this time last year, then went onto a spring campaign. This gelding hasn't raced beyond 1600m, which is a major difference, but he's had three trials, and you'd expect him to be on the pace. If he's above average and has settled in, he wins this race. 4. Touristic has a much better set-up than what ultimately unfolded in the Winter Cup where he started $4.40. It was a slowly run race, and he's finished on well, but without ever looking a chance. Back to 2000m suits and draws to make a lie of last start. If Elamaz doesn't fire, he's the one to beat. 2. Loch Eagle is on trial at 2000m, but he does it third up on the back of a strong win at the Randwick mile. He is arguably more effective on wetter tracks but just that little bit of give may be enough with the extra trip. Usually competitive and can be here. 6. Glory Daze had his chance when favourite in the Winter Cup, though he may have been a little further back than ideal given how the race was run. Another who relishes the very wet ground, but he's hard fit and can run well. How to play it: Elamaz to win. Loading Race 10 – 4.30PM CHANDON HANDICAP (1200 METRES) 13. Lady Extreme steps up in class, but she was impressive a month ago mowing down Let's Go Again to win a Midway first up off no official trial. She's had some time to get over that run and finds a race that should have genuine speed, and she's come up with barrier one. Still lightly raced for a five-year-old and on the way up, she can measure up to this company. 12. Snack Bar has his 13th different rider as the blinkers go on following his second placing behind King Of Roseau last time out. He did look to have his chance, but perhaps coming back 100m with the shades on he's worth another chance. 2. Eye Of The Fire is a consistent type resuming, and he did win his first two starts last preparation before continuing to race well. Likely gets back, but he's been able to handle that style of racing in the past. 10. Liberty State was awesome when storming down the middle to win easily first up a month ago, and it will be interesting to see if she can reproduce that. The gap between runs gives her that chance and a drier track is no issue. How to play it: Lady Extreme to win.
