Secreto (USA)
February 12, 1981 – 1999
Northern Dancer (CAN) x Betty's Secret (USA), by Secretariat (USA)
Family 4-d
February 12, 1981 – 1999
Northern Dancer (CAN) x Betty's Secret (USA), by Secretariat (USA)
Family 4-d
Secreto was the only horse ever to defeat the excellent El Gran Senor, and he did so in one of the world's most prestigious events, robbing El Gran Senor of victory in the Ever Ready Derby Stakes (ENG-I) by a short head. He did not race again, withdrawing from several important engagements in turn before his retirement was officially pronounced, and enjoyed only modest success as a sire.
Race record
4 starts, 3 wins, 0 seconds, 1 third, £244,904
1984:
Assessments
Secreto earned a Timeform rating of 128 pounds as a 3-year-old.
In their book A Century of Champions (1999, Portway Press, Ltd.), British experts John Randall and Tony Morris rated Secreto as an “inferior” Derby winner.
As an individual
A strong-bodied, short-coupled bay horse with powerful hindquarters, Secreto was back at the knee and upright in his pasterns and had his hocks somewhat out behind him. Nonetheless, he had good action and was thoroughly game and genuine.
As a stallion
Secreto was the American champion freshman sire of 1988 according to The Blood-Horse but failed to follow up on that early success. According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Secreto sired 238 winners (37.1%) and 30 stakes winners (4.6%) from 651 named foals.
Notable progeny
Miss Secreto (USA), Mystiko (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Maryland, Secreto was bred by E. P. Taylor. He was owned by Luigi Miglietti, who purchased him for US$340,000 from the 1982 Keeneland July yearling sale. He was trained by David O'Brien. Syndicated for US$40 million following his Derby Stakes victory, Secreto did not race again and retired to stud in Kentucky at Calumet Farm. He was exported to Japan in 1992.
Pedigree notes
Secreto is inbred 3x5x5 to two-time English/Irish champion sire Nearco, an unbeaten champion on the race course, and 5x5 to 1935 American Horse of the Year Discovery. He is a full brother to Catopetl, dam of Gran Premio d'Italia (ITY-I) winner Close Conflict (by High Estate) and restricted stakes winner Newton's Law (by Law Society) and third dam of Japanese Group II winner Horai Akiko. Secreto is also a half brother to restricted stakes winner Interrex (by Vice Regent), to three-time Cheltenham Champion Hurdle winner Istabraq (by Sadler's Wells) and to stakes-placed From Sea to Sea (by Gregorian), dam of listed stakes winner Sealaunch (by Relaunch) and third dam of 2015 Awesome Again Stakes (USA-I) winner Smooth Roller and Grade II winner California Nectar.
Secreto is out of unraced Betty's Secret, a half sister to 1974 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby, FR-I) winner and French champion 3-year-old male Caracolero (by Graustark). Betty's Secret is also a half sister to stakes-placed Native Loraine (by Raise a Native), second dam of five-time Austrian and Serbian champion Roi Estate and Irish Group III winner Catch the Blues, and to Pride of Darby (by Danzig), dam of Group III-placed English stakes winner Bahamian Sunshine (by Sunshine Forever) and Grade II-placed listed winner Buckeye Search (by Meadowlake).
Betty's Secret and her siblings are out of the stakes-placed Prince John mare Betty Loraine, a half sister to 1969 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Majestic Prince (by Raise a Native), 1971 English champion 2-year-old male Crowned Prince (by Raise a Native), multiple stakes winner Lovely Gypsy (by Armageddon) and Meadow Blue (by Raise a Native), dam of French stakes winner Nureyev's Best (by Nureyev) and second dam of 1998 American champion 3-year-old male Real Quiet and Grade/Group II winners Andujar and Allied Forces. Also a half sister to stakes producers Rollabout (by My Babu) and Caronatta (by Raise a Native), Betty Lorraine is out of unraced Gay Hostess (by Royal Charger--Your Hostess, by Alibhai), a full sister to stakes winner Royal Clipper and a half sister to 1974 Ladies Handicap (USA-I) winner Coraggioso (by Gallant Man), 1963 Schuylerville Stakes winner Gallatia (by Gallant Man) and 1967 Arlington-Washington Futurity winner T. V. Commercial (by T. V. Lark).
Books and media
Secreto is one of 75 stallions profiled in Tony Morris' Thoroughbred Stallions (The Crowood Press, 1990).
Fun facts
Race record
4 starts, 3 wins, 0 seconds, 1 third, £244,904
1984:
- Won Derby Stakes (ENG-I, 12FT, Epsom)
- Won H. M. Hartigan Tetrarch Stakes (IRE-III, 7FT, The Curragh)
- 3rd Irish Two Thousand Guineas (IRE-I, 8FT, The Curragh)
Assessments
Secreto earned a Timeform rating of 128 pounds as a 3-year-old.
In their book A Century of Champions (1999, Portway Press, Ltd.), British experts John Randall and Tony Morris rated Secreto as an “inferior” Derby winner.
As an individual
A strong-bodied, short-coupled bay horse with powerful hindquarters, Secreto was back at the knee and upright in his pasterns and had his hocks somewhat out behind him. Nonetheless, he had good action and was thoroughly game and genuine.
As a stallion
Secreto was the American champion freshman sire of 1988 according to The Blood-Horse but failed to follow up on that early success. According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Secreto sired 238 winners (37.1%) and 30 stakes winners (4.6%) from 651 named foals.
Notable progeny
Miss Secreto (USA), Mystiko (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Maryland, Secreto was bred by E. P. Taylor. He was owned by Luigi Miglietti, who purchased him for US$340,000 from the 1982 Keeneland July yearling sale. He was trained by David O'Brien. Syndicated for US$40 million following his Derby Stakes victory, Secreto did not race again and retired to stud in Kentucky at Calumet Farm. He was exported to Japan in 1992.
Pedigree notes
Secreto is inbred 3x5x5 to two-time English/Irish champion sire Nearco, an unbeaten champion on the race course, and 5x5 to 1935 American Horse of the Year Discovery. He is a full brother to Catopetl, dam of Gran Premio d'Italia (ITY-I) winner Close Conflict (by High Estate) and restricted stakes winner Newton's Law (by Law Society) and third dam of Japanese Group II winner Horai Akiko. Secreto is also a half brother to restricted stakes winner Interrex (by Vice Regent), to three-time Cheltenham Champion Hurdle winner Istabraq (by Sadler's Wells) and to stakes-placed From Sea to Sea (by Gregorian), dam of listed stakes winner Sealaunch (by Relaunch) and third dam of 2015 Awesome Again Stakes (USA-I) winner Smooth Roller and Grade II winner California Nectar.
Secreto is out of unraced Betty's Secret, a half sister to 1974 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby, FR-I) winner and French champion 3-year-old male Caracolero (by Graustark). Betty's Secret is also a half sister to stakes-placed Native Loraine (by Raise a Native), second dam of five-time Austrian and Serbian champion Roi Estate and Irish Group III winner Catch the Blues, and to Pride of Darby (by Danzig), dam of Group III-placed English stakes winner Bahamian Sunshine (by Sunshine Forever) and Grade II-placed listed winner Buckeye Search (by Meadowlake).
Betty's Secret and her siblings are out of the stakes-placed Prince John mare Betty Loraine, a half sister to 1969 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Majestic Prince (by Raise a Native), 1971 English champion 2-year-old male Crowned Prince (by Raise a Native), multiple stakes winner Lovely Gypsy (by Armageddon) and Meadow Blue (by Raise a Native), dam of French stakes winner Nureyev's Best (by Nureyev) and second dam of 1998 American champion 3-year-old male Real Quiet and Grade/Group II winners Andujar and Allied Forces. Also a half sister to stakes producers Rollabout (by My Babu) and Caronatta (by Raise a Native), Betty Lorraine is out of unraced Gay Hostess (by Royal Charger--Your Hostess, by Alibhai), a full sister to stakes winner Royal Clipper and a half sister to 1974 Ladies Handicap (USA-I) winner Coraggioso (by Gallant Man), 1963 Schuylerville Stakes winner Gallatia (by Gallant Man) and 1967 Arlington-Washington Futurity winner T. V. Commercial (by T. V. Lark).
Books and media
Secreto is one of 75 stallions profiled in Tony Morris' Thoroughbred Stallions (The Crowood Press, 1990).
Fun facts
- Secreto's Derby Stakes win made 27-year-old David O'Brien the youngest man to have trained a winner of England's premier Classic. O'Brien, who had gotten married only 11 days before the great race, had put off his honeymoon to complete the colt's preparation. The race also marked the first one-two finish by father-and-son trainers as Vincent O'Brien trained runner-up El Gran Senor.
- Both Secreto and El Gran Senor put on such compelling performances in the Derby Stakes that the connections of both were invited to the Royal Box, a privilege traditionally extended only to the winner's connections.
- Secreto and his Derby Stakes rival El Gran Senor, both sons of Northern Dancer, were both bred by E. P. Taylor (alone or in partnership). Not only were they both foaled at Windfields Farm's Maryland division, but they reportedly shared the same paddock as yearlings.