Secret Chord’s win today is likely to make him ineligible for the WSB Grand Heritage as his merit rating will probably be raised to a mark above the 106 limit (JC Photos)
The most transformed horse in South African racing must be the St. John Gray-trained six-year-old Bezrin gelding Secret Chord and it would appear simply removing blinkers was a contributing factor.
Philasande Mxoli has ridden him in all five of his starts this season and understands the horse very well and that must be another factor to the turnaround.
Secret Chord had worn blinkers for his previous 26 starts when making his seasonal reappearance without headgear on in a 1400m handicap at the Vaal on August 19.
It was the first time he had been seen without blinkers since 17 November, 2023.
It was also only the third time this calendar year Mxoli had ridden him, the previous time being when he finished a close up fourth on him sandwiched in between two runs when he was beaten 12,50 lengths and 19,30 lengths respectively.
Secret Chord won his reappearance off a 90 merit rating and after finishing second over a mile in his following start he has rattled off three wins on the trot over trips from 1450m to 1500m.
Today (Thursday) he ran in a MR 108 Handicap over 1450m off his highest ever rating of 105 and flew up from off the pace to win by 2,60 lengths.
On the downside that means he is likely to rise above a 106 rating and will thus not be able to take part in the Grand Heritage.
The latter race, which has the biggest field in South African racing i.e. a maximum of 28 runners, is restricted to horses with a Nett merit rating of 106 and below.
This is in order to give lesser horses a chance of a big stake.
The stake for the exciting 1475m event is R500,000.
Secret Chord is by the last son of Danzig to stand in South Africa, the underrated Bezrin.
The good looking chestnut has looked more and more classy with each successive run this season and he is no one trick pony either, as he has won from the front in one of his four wins this season, from the box seat in another, from handy in another and today he came from last with the exception of the tailed off Tintin.
The variable tactics is proof of just how well Mxoli gets on with Secret Chord.
It will not be easy to find feature race opportunities for him over 1400m with the Gr 2 Hawaii Stakes being the only one that springs to mind, but unlike the Grand Heritage that is not a handicap and he might be a touch outclassed there.
Hopefully, there will be enough races on the program for him to still come our regularly, because this horse still has plenty to offer.
The St. John Gray-homebred gelding is out of the Announce mare First Waltz, who won on debut over 1200m at the Vaal and thereafter managed six places in a further 17 runs.
Secret Chord himself has earned R830,637 from 36 runs, with 9 wins and 17 places.
