Arthritis-Plagued Secret Flyer Wins Sir John Monash Stakes

Secret Flyer

Secret Flyer has taken out the Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield

Secret Flyer proved too good for his competitors when he won the Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.

The rising eight-year-old had to overcome a variety of leg injuries, including arthritis, in order to win the $100,000 race.

Trainer Marc Young said that many of the injuries stemmed from a paddle bone operation the horse had as a juvenile.

“He’s got feet problems, and when you have them you’ve got problems for life,” Young said.

“He’s got arthritis in both front joints, one’s more significant than the other, but it’s manageable.

“He’s on all the joint powder.

“If he was a stayer and you had to put the work in him he wouldn’t be here.

“He’s a naturally fit horse so he doesn’t need much work. He trialled super at Geelong the other day and we’ve just swum him since.”

Secret Flyer won Saturday’s race by a length ahead of Rue Maple and Warm Love.

Young said he will continue to run the Secret Savings gelding on wet tracks, preventing further injury being caused to his legs.

“It’ll come to an end one day, they all do, but if we manage him, ignore the last spring and autumn, perhaps go to Sydney, anywhere there is give in the ground,” Young said.

“Every run he has on a firm track is like having three.

“He’s only had 30-odd starts – from the knees up he’s a very sound horse.”

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