Sworn to Secrecy Brilliant in Group 2 Emancipation Stakes

In a Sydney Group winning double for NZB graduates, trainer John O'Shea and connections had a lot to celebrate on Saturday when their filly Sworn to Secrecy romped home to win the Group 2 Emirates Emancipation Stakes (1600m).

Winning twice earlier in the season, Sworn to Secrecy (Keeper x Heartache) has been racing well but has been competing against some significantly tougher company this campaign. But she has shown that she is more than capable of matching it with the elite fillies, running a good third in the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes two starts back.

Racing back in transit on Saturday, the filly was prominent coming into the straight and, showing no problems in the heavy going, romped home in the fillies feature to win by two-and-a-half lengths in the hands of jockey Brenton Avdulla.

Sold at the 2009 Ready to Run Sale by Poplar Lodge and bought by Andrew Scott for $52,000, the filly was bought by her Australian connections after running second to the Group 3 winning filly Dating at Te Rapa as a two-year-old.

Trainer John O'Shea was very impressed with the filly's performance.

"She's a quality filly, she has thrived during her time at the stable and has come a long way this preparation.

"She has always shown she has ability so to win a race like the Emancipation this preparation is fantastic. We have had the Melbourne spring in mind for her for some time, so we will give her a break, and hopefully she can come back bigger and better.

"There are a number of spring fillies and mares races that will be ideal for her, the Tesio Stakes on Cox Plate day is a race we have in mind, and if she goes well, a tilt at the Group 1 Myer Classic could be on the cards."

Yet another Australian Group winner purchased off the New Zealand tracks, Sworn to Secrecy's win highlights the opportunities offered in the new Horses-in-Training session at the May Sale, where 50 horses are set to go under the hammer. Other horses that have been bought from the New Zealand tracks to race on the international stage include Descarado, Herculian Prince, Culminate and the international Group 1 winning star Egyptian Ra.

Sworn to Secrecy is now the winner of over A$145,000 from her nine starts, and looks to have a bright future. She is also the 20th individual stakes winner for her sire Keeper who is having another successful season, with his daughter Midnight Oil taking out the New Zealand Oaks.

New Zealand three-year-old's are having a strong season in Australia, taking out the VRC Derby, VRC Oaks, Australian Guineas, Rosehill Guineas and the AJC Derby. Saturday's racing saw that success continue with both premier Sydney three-year-old races won by New Zealand horses in Shootoff and Sworn to Secrecy.

Sworn to Secrecy has a half-sister in the May Sale, Tenko at Lot 482 by Shinko King, and has been served by Keeper, making any product of the covering a three-quarter relation to Sworn to Secrecy.