Thesecretadversary proved himself worthy of mention among the best of the 3-year-old crop with a barnstorming all-the-way success in the Prix Jean Prat (G1) under Christophe Soumillon.
In downing a pair of Guineas winners in True Love and Rayif at Deauville July 12, he earned trainer Fozzy Stack a first European group 1 victory, three years on from Aspen Grove's Belmont Oaks (G1T) win in the United States.
Thesecretadversary had already put himself on the Royal Ascot roll of honor when landing the Jersey Stakes (G3) over a straight 7 furlongs, and Stack said his faith in the son of St Mark's Basilica had never waned despite setbacks earlier in the year in the Newmarket and Curragh versions of the Two Thousand Guineas.
On a searingly hot Normandy afternoon, Stack made sure to douse his hero in plenty of water before embracing Soumillon, the measure of what all had just achieved appearing to sink in pretty rapidly.
"We always felt he was a good horse," Stack said. "He showed it at Ascot under a penalty and he showed it again today. In the two Guineas, he didn't perform. He got no run at the Curragh and beat himself at Newmarket.
"We always thought he was a good colt but, coming here and taking on two Guineas winners, you're never going to be too confident."
Seamie Heffernan has been a big part of Thesecretadversary's development and had been aboard in the Jersey, a victory which came at the expense of a lengthy whip ban.
The colt is owned by Gaynor Rupert's Cayton Park Stud and Sue Magnier, and it was to regular Coolmore ally Soumillon that Stack turned for the ride.
"Christophe was very good," said Stack. "We were worried there was no pace and he said, 'I think I'm going to make the running if nobody else wants to'. It all worked out."
Regarding future targets, Stack said: "I'd imagine he could go to York, over this trip. He's in the Haydock Sprint Cup too. Christophe said he has enough pace for 6 furlongs, and Seamie has said the same.
"I'll talk to the owners and see what they want to do. Both halves of the partnership are in the stallion-making business, so I'll be guided by them."
This race has been a springboard for the stud careers of Too Darn Hot and Pinatubo, to name just two, since being cut to 7 furlongs in 2019, and it is clear that Thesecretadversary is now a valuable commodity for both sets of owners. It was also a first group 1 win for Soumillon this year.
But this was all about Stack, who was following up a 100% record at Royal Ascot, where his only other runner, Nola Soul, took the Chesham Stakes.
Stack said: "It's amazing. We've had him since he was a foal, and this fella's grandmother, Scream Blue Murder, won a listed race at Nottingham and a group 3 at the Curragh under the late Pat Smullen, so it goes back a while. It means a lot."
True Love tracked Thesecretadversary up the stands' rail and appeared to see daylight in plenty of time, but could close the gap to only half a length despite rattling home in a fraction over 33 seconds for the final 3 furlongs.
Nighttime finished third.
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