Bradley Holds Secret To Deauville Stakes Success
Dark Angel has enjoyed a fine campaign with his 2YO’s this season and enhanced that further during the second Stakes race on the card at Deauville, the 6f Listed Prix Zeddaan, which went the way of Karl Burke and Nick Bradley’s Secret Angel. The two-year-old daughter of Dark Angel settled well under Tony Piccone, racing close to the pace set by George Boughey’s California Gem. Having been ridden to lead, the Michael Bell-trained Kerindia looked an ominous figure on her outside, but she could not get by her as she was driven out to score by a neck. Good Guess was three quarters of a length further back in third. Secret Angel has won three times during her 2YO campaign and boasts a OR of 92.
Nick Bradley Racing saddled the first two home in the six-furlong contest 12 months ago when Honey Sweet claimed gold and Hellomydarlin silver. However, this time Secret Angel was the sole representative in the white and black silks of the successful syndicate.
He said: “We had the one-two last year, it was a shame I couldn’t bring another horse to try have the one-two again, but we’ve won it again and I’ll be trying to do the same next year.
“She’s a bigger, nicer filly than the other UK horses that came across, a bit stronger, and with soft ground that was always going to be a help. She’s a very nice filly.
“I thought she ran massive at Ayr last time, I thought she looked the winner 150 yards before the line and probably just got tired. Today in slightly shallower waters, she did it very nicely.”
Some other notable Stakes 2YO’s this season for Dark Angel include Mysterious Night (G1, OR 110), The Antarctic (G3 & G1 placed, OR 113), Charyn (G2, OR 109) and Barefoot Angel (G3, OR 99) Secret Angel was also the 95th individual stakes winner for her sire.
