By MIKE DILLON
Trainer Mark Walker looks at Distinctly Secret going into today's A$300,000 Prime Minister's Cup and thinks about the record books.
The massive millionaire Kiwi stayer has lost a few friends since being well beaten in his first Queensland start this campaign two weeks ago.
That was when Walker took to
the record books.
"You know," he says quietly, "he's got a great record at 2400m."
Walker had just been asked for his opinion of Australian bookmakers having the horse a bit easy in betting at $3.50, even though he is favourite.
The record is outstanding going into today's race - fourth in the Queensland Derby, a third and a fourth in two Caulfield Cups and second in a Sandown Classic.
That doesn't include a win, but it should have - Distinctly Secret's Queensland Derby fourth should have been a clear-cut win, but the ride was one of the worst you'd see in a group one race.
Another statistic Walker is leaning on is the fact that some of Distinctly Secret's best performances have been at his second start after a break. The Doomben run was his first.
The biggest problem facing Distinctly Secret is the clear topweight of 58kg.
Auckland Cup winner Upsetthym is second topweight with 53kg and is second favourite at $4.50
New Zealand also has The Mighty Lions and Raspberry Ripple in the race, both down in the weights with 52kg. Their odds are $17 and $51 respectively. Raspberry Ripple's form will improve when she strikes rain.
This will come down to class V weight, the classic racing equation.
The two New Zealand-trained runners in the A$75,000 Gold Coast Guineas are King's Chapel and Russian Pearl, but the connection doesn't stop there. Favourite Power And Gold is being prepared by a former Matamata trainer, Maryanne Brosnan, and well-fancied Martique is owned by Aucklander Bob Emery.
Martique is trained by Gai Waterhouse and won fresh from a break last start.
Russian Pearl copped no favours in the draw with a horror No 17 gate at the 1400m. King's Chapel is much better off at No 4.
Walker wrestled with putting the blinkers back on King's Reach and decided to include the gear today to counteract the colt's slow beginning in his Australian debut at Doomben.
Some of Russian Pearl's best efforts have been when on the fresh side and he has the class to cope here. But he will need luck from the draw. Jim Cassidy rides him.
Mercedes Derby winner Cut The Cake will have Glen Boss in the saddle to attack the weight-for-age A$200,000 Hollindale Cup.
Defier and This Manshood will be fierce opponents under the weight scale.
By MIKE DILLON
Trainer Mark Walker looks at Distinctly Secret going into today's A$300,000 Prime Minister's Cup and thinks about the record books.
The massive millionaire Kiwi stayer has lost a few friends since being well beaten in his first Queensland start this campaign two weeks ago.
That was when Walker took to
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