Secret Steals July Glory

Sakhee's Secret completed his transition from handicaps to the highest echelons of the sprinting division by taking the Darley July Cup at Newmarket.

Raiders from Australia, South Africa, France, Ireland and Germany gathered for a tilt at this prestigious six-furlong Group One, but in the end it was a success that can truly be acclaimed as British.

Trained by Hughie Morrison and ridden by Steve Drowne, Sakhee's Secret is owned by Bridget Swire, one of the doyennes of the British breeding industry.

In holding off the desperate charge of Dutch Art by half a length, three-year-olds were able to fill the first two places.

Sakhee's Secret (9-2) had started the season at the Rowley Mile course, just a stone's throw away, when sluicing home off a mark of 93 in a Class Two handicap.

Morrison then sensibly preserved him for the big occasion by opting for a couple of further stepping stones in Listed races at Salisbury and Newbury since.

It was a second July Cup in three renewals for the East Ilsley trainer following Pastoral Pursuits' victory in 2005.

'You can never quite believe they are that good when you only go the Listed route and this was quite a performance to go up four grades,' he said.

'I am an advocate of moving up the system and we decided not to go for Royal Ascot and run at Salisbury instead.

'Steve said he had to take a pull after 100 yards as he was flying, and this means we can either go five or seven furlongs in the future.

'The horse is in everything ? the Nunthorpe and he will be put in the Betfred Sprint Cup, but I need to watch the race again properly.

'Miss Swire has supported British breeding for as long as anyone. She finds it very difficult to get out and about, but this just keeps us all going.'

Drowne, a popular figure in the weighing room, did not ride Pastoral Pursuits two years ago and this victory will rank as one of his greatest achievements.

He explained: 'I was pretty sure he was a Group One horse, but he's only going to get better.

'I thought he might run green as this was his first time at a big meeting and he might have had a look around, but when Dutch Art came up to him, he just went away.

'With the profile he has, he'll be around for a year or two and I don't see why he can't become one of the best sprinters we've had for a long time.'

South African runner Drayton set a scorching pace from the off, flanked by Ireland's Dandy Man before the former weakened with a couple of furlongs to run.

This left opportunities for horses fanned out across the track, with Bentley Biscuit and eventual fourth Marchand d'Or moving to the fore, although it was Red Clubs who hit the front briefly at the distance before Sakhee's Secret began his charge.

Peter Chapple-Hyam's Dutch Art (5-1), dropping back from his creditable efforts in the 2000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes, really responded in the closing stages for Jimmy Fortune but never looked like quite getting up.

Chapple-Hyam thought the colt had been a bit unlucky, and said: 'We got squeezed out and he flew when he saw clear daylight.

'I would think the Prix Maurice de Gheest over six and a half furlongs will be his next race.'

Red Clubs was a length and a quarter away in third for Barry Hills, who said: 'He's a very consistent, tough campaigner who has been bought by the Tally-Ho Stud.

'Before he takes up stallion duties he will go for the Nunthorpe, the Haydock Sprint Cup and perhaps the Abbaye.'

Dandy Man was fifth, just ahead of 4-1 favourite Asset and Borderlescott.

Bentley Biscuit was 10th, with trainer Gai Waterhouse delighted and thinking about postponing his return to Australia for an outing in the Sprint Cup.

Sander Camillo, once a leading 1000 Guineas prospect and the subject of a big morning gamble, was again bitterly disappointing and trailed in a distant last of the 18.

(C) PA Sport