Thesecretadversary adds to good week for Fozzy Stack

Fozzy Stack and Seamie Heffernan joined forces for a second win of the week at Royal Ascot as Thesecretadversary produced a 20-1 shock in the Jersey Stakes.

The pair, who landed the Chesham Stakes on Thursday with Nola Soul, brought the St Mark’s Basilica colt back to sprinting after an unsuccessful mile campaign in both the English and Irish 2000 Guineas.

And they were rewarded with a gutsy victory from the three-year-old who got the better of a sustained battle through the final furlong with Johnny Murtagh’s 50-1 runner-up Take Charge Star, landing the Group Three prize by a neck.

The Irish pair pulled four lengths clear of the field on the far side with the bulk of the runners coming up the near side with minor places filled by Morris Dancer at 20-1 in third for John and Thady Gosden and Joseph O’Brien’s Green Sense – who topped the Goffs London Sale at £700,000 on Monday – fourth at 80-1.

“He put in huge performances in two Classics when things didn’t go his way. He had a 3lb penalty but it (winning) wasn’t a surprise to me – I was surprised how much he drifted (in the betting) to be honest,” said the trainer.

“Ninety per cent of the horses here are good horses and they just need luck and for everything to go right. It was lovely to get one winner and two is unbelievable. ”

Heffernan felt his mount might have been placed in both Guineas had the cards fallen better for him but was understandably delighted he had gained compensation.

“He’s our best three-year-old colt and won a Guineas trial and then ran a blinder in the English Guineas, where he ran too keen, too fresh. Then in the Irish Guineas we got boxed in,” he said.

“Those two races didn’t go to plan and he should have been placed. I have to say thanks to the co-owners for giving me a third shot at it.

“Fozzy said the Jersey Stakes straight up. He has a penalty but there will be no hard luck stories. He travelled strong. He has loads of pace – probably more pace than we’ve seen.

“He lights up on the track and definitely coming back in trip was a help. He could go back another furlong. He’s a good horse and it’s brilliant it’s worked out.

Heffernan added: “Fozzy has a small team but we brought the two winners here hoping they would run well and both hit the bullseye. It’s brilliant.”