Jockey Dan Nikolic has been engaged to try to help first up specialist Secret Flyer to a second win in the Listed Kensington Stakes at Flemington.Trainer Mark Young has targeted Saturday's feature with the gelding after he raced though his grades to win the race by 4-1/2 lengths a year ago.Nikolic is having his first ride on Secret Flyer who would be the first dual winner of the Kensington since it became a stakes race 1997.The race will provide an autumn launching pad for Secret Flyer with a st

Jockey Dan Nikolic has been engaged to try to help first up specialist Secret Flyer to a second win in the Listed Kensington Stakes at Flemington.

Trainer Mark Young has targeted Saturday's feature with the gelding after he raced though his grades to win the race by 4-1/2 lengths a year ago.

Nikolic is having his first ride on Secret Flyer who would be the first dual winner of the Kensington since it became a stakes race 1997.

The race will provide an autumn launching pad for Secret Flyer with a start in the Group One Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on January 30 and the Group Three Rubiton Stakes (1100m) a week later at Caulfield among his options.

"We will sort it out as we go," Young said.

"He has still only won a Listed race and is Group Three-placed so we will see how he pulls up and go from there."

Last start Standish Handicap winner Royal Ida (103) is the only one of the other 17 horses nominated for the Kensington on a higher rating than Secret Flyer, who is graded at 102.

Cargo Cult (102), Happy Glen (99), Arinos (99), and Keano (98) are the other top raters.

Secret Flyer, who has an explosive turn of foot, has won nine of his 24 starts.

He last raced when sixth to Eagle Falls in the Group Two Salinger Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on October 31 and has an imposing first up record of three wins and a second from four starts.

Young said the son of Secret Savings had been a slow maturing horse but had furnished in the past 12 months and had impressed with his development again this campaign.

"He looks great and has come back nice and strong," Young said.

He said that with the Kensington distance reduced from 1100 to 1000 metres it should suit Secret Flyer even better this year.

He has started six times over 1000 metres for four wins and two thirds.

Young said he was yet to decide if consistent galloper Ship In the Night would run in Saturday's Listed Chester Manifold Stakes (1400m).

Among the 17 entries are Zagreb, Time Matters, Tears I Cry, Pacino and Diplomatic Force but Ship In the Night, who was second at Flemington last start, is still eligible for benchmark races.