3 minute read

Mark Oulaghan is expecting an improved showing from Shared Secrets on Sunday.

The Awapuni trainer has no worries about stepping the mare up in class in the Kuripuni Sports Bar & TAB Masterton Cup (2050m) off the back of an unplaced last-start performance in Rating 75 company.

“She was a little bit disappointing, but she might have been in season,” Oulaghan said.

“She was racing in tight quarters and didn’t like it – when she won a couple of starts before that she was three wide all the way.”

Shared Secrets has pleased Oulaghan with her subsequent progress and has booked Alysha Collett for the ride on Sunday.

“She’s a pretty good mare and she should go well,” he said.

A daughter of Nadeem, the four-year-old raced well in strong company last season and finished fourth in the Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) before she won the St Leger Trial.

In her next appearance, Shared Secrets wasn’t disgraced in finishing ninth in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m).

Meanwhile, her well-performed stablemate Shadows Cast will step out at his home meeting on Saturday week.

“He’ll run in the open sprint at Awapuni and we’ll see where we go from there,” Oulaghan said. “Once the tracks get wet he’ll go out.”

Shadows Cast won three times during the spring, including a shared victory with Son Of Maher in the Gr.2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m). He finished sixth in the Gr.1 Haunui Farm WFA Classic (1600m) at his last start.

“A bit of time has really helped him,” Oulaghan said. “He’s got stronger and developed nicely.”