Trainer Tony Vasil has described six-year-old Lucky Secret as an underrated sprinter more than capable of mixing it with the best in Friday night's Group One Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley.Former Australian champion sprinter Apache Cat will carry the number one saddlecloth but emerging stars Nicconi, Mic Mac, Swift Alliance, Golden Slipper Stakes winner Phelan Ready and Wanted will ensure a hot contest."It is a very strong field but I think he's right up to them and if rains it will only enhan

Trainer Tony Vasil has described six-year-old Lucky Secret as an underrated sprinter more than capable of mixing it with the best in Friday night's Group One Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley.

Former Australian champion sprinter Apache Cat will carry the number one saddlecloth but emerging stars Nicconi, Mic Mac, Swift Alliance, Golden Slipper Stakes winner Phelan Ready and Wanted will ensure a hot contest.

"It is a very strong field but I think he's right up to them and if rains it will only enhance his chances because he loves the soft and he loves the Valley," Vasil said.

Lucky Secret, the $5 third favourite with TAB Sportsbet, is backing up after winning last Saturday's Listed Starlight Stakes at Rosehill and success in the Manikato would take his earnings above $1 million.

He will be ridden by champion Hong Kong-based jockey Brett Prebble who fills the saddle in place of suspended rider Nash Rawiller.

Prebble is competing in an international jockeys' series on the night and Vasil rates him a 10-length better rider that when he won consecutive Melbourne jockeys' premierships in 2000 and 2001.

"He is world class," Vasil said.

Despite his outstanding success Prebble is yet to win a Manikato Stakes but Vasil said Lucky Secret would give him a good ride.

He believes that Lucky Secret would have made it an "interesting" contest with Manikato $4 favourite Nicconi who won the McEwen Stakes (1000m) at the Valley on September 12.

David Hayes declared Nicconi the best sprinter he had trained after the win but the hard track delayed the start of Lucky Secret's spring campaign.

"If we had contested that race on a surface that suited us it would have been interesting," Vasil said.

"He (Lucky Secret) is a horse who makes his own luck and is very underrated.

"He has won 12 of his 19 starts but he probably should have won 15 of 19.

"On at least three occasions he was beaten because of pilot error."

Vasil said the Oakleigh Plate was the Group One that got away from Lucky Secret with Swiss Ace snatching victory from him in the last stride.

A bleeding attack and a range of leg injuries have impeded Lucky Secret's career and at the end of his last campaign he had bone chips removed from his offside knee and nearside fetlock.

Vasil said Lucky Secret was tough and underlined his courage when he resumed with 60kg in the Starlight Stakes.

"To do what he did with that weight was a really huge effort," Vasil said.

"He looked like he was going to run second and then in the last 50 metres he just grew wings.

"He has come through the race well and backing up won't be a problem for him.

"He is a pretty resilient horse."

Vasil has given Lucky Secret an easy week and on Wednesday put him under saddle for the first time since Saturday.

"He is in good order and I will jump on him in the morning (Thursday) and let him stride along and see what he can do," Vasil said.