Trainer Phillip Cox is hoping his decision not to be send Secrets Untold to Sydney for next month's Group Two Villiers Handicap will be vindicated in the Listed Brisbane Handicap at Eagle Farm on Saturday.One of Secrets Untold's nine owners tried to convince Cox that the gelding was worth taking south for the 1600-metre Randwick feature after he scored his fourth consecutive win at Eagle Farm in September.However, Cox had reservations how the seven-year-old would cope with his first trip away an
Trainer Phillip Cox is hoping his decision not to be send Secrets Untold to Sydney for next month's Group Two Villiers Handicap will be vindicated in the Listed Brisbane Handicap at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
One of Secrets Untold's nine owners tried to convince Cox that the gelding was worth taking south for the 1600-metre Randwick feature after he scored his fourth consecutive win at Eagle Farm in September.
However, Cox had reservations how the seven-year-old would cope with his first trip away and preferred to concentrate on three black-type races in his home state.
"One of his owners was keen to have a go in the Villiers but I don't know if he's up to the Sydney opposition and how he'd handle the trip down," Cox said.
"The Villiers is Group Two but there's three good Listed races for him here."
The Brisbane Handicap (1600m) will be the first of the local features followed by the Listed Recognition Handicap (1600m) at Eagle Farm in two weeks before the Listed Bernborough Handicap (1615m) at Doomben on Boxing Day.
Secrets Untold was given a short break after landing his latest victory at Eagle Farm on September 19 before returning to finish ninth to Forestreno in an unsuitable 1200-metre Open Handicap at Doomben on October 31.
The son of Sequalo carried 56 kilograms that day and Cox is disappointed with his 57.5 kilos for the Brisbane Handicap.
"I think 57.5 kilos is a bit much and I expected him to get around the same weight as last time," Cox said.
"It's a strong field and he's got more weight than Hard To Catch who has won more than $1 million in prizemoney."
Heavyweight apprentice Michael Hughes rode Secrets Untold last start but Stathi Katsidis will be reunited with him in the Brisbane Handicap.
Katsidis has a perfect record aboard Secrets Untold, being successful in his only two rides at Eagle Farm and Doomben in August.
Secrets Untold could have another go at the Magic Millions Stayers Cup (1800m) at the Gold Coast in January if he performs well in his upcoming Listed race assignments.
He finished sixth in this year's Magic Millions Stayers Cup won by the Liam Birchley-trained Pepperwood after finishing third to the same horse in the Bernborough Handicap.
Cox believes Secrets Untold's latest run at Doomben has topped him off perfectly for the Brisbane Handicap.
"He only had 10 days off before his last run but it was way too short for him last time and he needed the run to have him right for this," Cox said.
"I think Sam's Express is the one to beat and old Hard To Catch is capable of anything on his day."