Pearl Secret impresses on Season's Debut

The David Barron-trained five-year-old bolted up in a conditions race over five furlongs, making a move just before the furlong marker under Jamie Spencer, and winning easily by 2¾l from runner-up Graphic Guest.

Pearl Secret, a son of Compton Place, won his only start as a juvenile, and his first three races the following year, including the Listed Scurry Stakes at Sandown. Last season, at the age of four, he ran just once, finishing third in the Gr.1 King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, but an injury ended his season sooner than expected.

Explaining the nature of that injury, Barron told the Racing Post: "He´s lucky to still be racing - he fractured a splint bone at home last year."

Of today's performance, Barron added: "He wanted a racecourse gallop and now we can think of bigger things to go to. He´s always liked a bit of ease in the ground and he won´t be going for any big races if it's firmer, but he´ll be put in the big sprints."