Thesecretadversary hits Listed target at Tipperary

Thesecretadversary claimed the scalp of Brussels to open his account in taking fashion in the Coolmore Stud Churchill Stakes at Tipperary.

Second to Humidity in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot, Fozzy Stack’s youngster was surprisingly beaten at odds of 2-13 when fancied to get off the mark in an Ayr maiden last time out.

Unperturbed by that defeat, he returned to Listed level to take on the challenge of Aidan O’Brien’s impressive debut scorer and July Stakes fourth Brussels, who was sent off the 10-11 favourite in the hands of Wayne Lordan.

Brussels appeared on course for a return to the winner’s enclosure when Lordan sent his mount for home inside the final quarter-mile, but having travelled smoothly throughout in the hands of Seamie Heffernan, Thesecretadversary finished powerfully to register a length success at odds of 3-1.

Stack said “His run at Ayr was a mess-up and while maybe the winner isn’t too bad, they went no gallop and the ground was soft. He had run well in Ascot and backed that up today. He did it well.

“It might be worth taking our chance in those big races now and there’s a Grade One (Summer Stakes on September 13) race for him in Canada on the same weekend as the National Stakes, which might be an option.

“The horse’s family has been lucky for me and thanks to the Rupert and Magnier families (joint-owners) for sending them all to me. My association goes back to Scream Blue Murder and I have an older full sister to Thesecretadversary in training as well.”