It's no Secret - Pearl is down in grade

Pearl Secret steps out of Group company for the first time in more than two years when lining up at Doncaster this afternoon.

The evergreen seven-year-old sprinter (pictured below), lines up in the Listed Scarborough Stakes (15.00), having run in 14 consecutive Group races, often at the top level. His most recent win came in the Gr.2 Temple Stakes at Haydock in May last year, but he has often finished close-up in high-quality sprint races without always having the best of luck in running.

Oisin Murphy rides Pearl Secret, who faces ten rivals, and a repeat of his very good run in Goodwood's Gr.2 Qatar King George Stakes would see him go close. Trainer David Barron was not too disappointed by the horse's latest effort in York's Gr.1 Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes, for he had run below par in the contest on two previous occasions.

Today's Doncaster card is the first of four days of racing at the South Yorkshire track, culminating in Saturday's Gr.1 Ladbrokes St Leger, won last year by Qatar Racing's Simple Verse. She returns to action after a summer break in tomorrow's Gr.2 Park Hill Stakes.

Also in action today is Pearl Bloodstock's Landwade Lad, who lines up in a conditions race (16.45). Bought privately in the spring, the James Fanshawe-trained four-year-old made his debut in new colours under Sheikh Fahad in a Corinthian Challenge charity race in Ireland earlier this summer,. More recently won a handicap at Windsor.

He faces just four rivals today, but they all have a higher BHA rating.

Qatar Racing is represented by two runners at Crois-Laroche in France this afternoon. The filly Delightful Dew lines up in a maiden (16.40) over 1,800 metres (nine furlongs), and faces 14 rivals she is owned in partnership with Gestut Ammerland and is trained by John Hammond.

Mikel Delzangles saddles Vengeful, who also tackles maiden company (18.10) in a race over 2,500 metres (12.5 furlongs).

Photograph of Pearl Secret: Laurence Squire