Blueblooded Hidden Motive set for Group 1 tasks after Roman Consul success
Capitalist (Written Tycoon) colt Hidden Motive put his name into the hat for future Group 1 races over the Spring Carnival when landing Saturday’s Roman Consul Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) at Rosehill.
Trained by Newcastle-based Nathan Doyle, the three-year-old had only had two outings in stakes company prior to this weekend’s Group 2, for a debut fourth in the Breeders’ Plate (Gr 3, 1000m) in October 2024 and a last-start fifth in the Heritage Stakes (Listed, 1100m), but proved he was well up to the task with success at $17.
Ridden by Ashley Morgan, Hidden Motive took over the lead from Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Marhoona (Snitzel) with 800 metres left to race and was never headed from that point, kicking clear with 300 metres to go before holding on by 0.3 lengths from the fast-finishing Beadman (Snitzel) ($3.50) – who was denied clear running until late in the contest.
Marhoona ($2), who had returned with a first-up win in the Heritage Stakes (Listed, 1100m), again ran well to be third – beaten 0.8 lengths by the winner.
Hidden Motive’s win was a welcome one for both Doyle and Morgan, who only this week aborted The Everest (Gr 1, 1200m) plans for stable star and spelling paddock-bound Private Harry (Harry Angel).
“It has been a tough week, but you’ve just got to roll the punches and, like I said, it’s a rollercoaster. You’ve just got to hold on and ride it out,” Doyle said.
“Tomorrow’s a new day, and that horse was very good today; it was a brilliant ride by Ash. He rated him well in front; he gave a good kick on the corner. There were a few unlucky runners in behind, but they pay on the post, and he’s a Group 2 winner now.
“He’s by Group 1 winner, out of Group 1 winner, so he’s got the pedigree and hopefully, he can go on with that.
“He’s got good tactical speed, which I think will help him go a long way. He’s better off putting himself up to speed and taking bad luck out of the equation.
“He’s a quality horse; he always looks a bit big in the mounting yard. I think he just takes a bit of racing to sort of come to hand and sort of prove that today third up.
“He has a great group of owners supporting us all the way, so we are very happy.”
Peter Snowden, the trainer of unlucky runner-up Beadman, was reflective of the colt’s run throughout under Tim Clark.
“No fault of Timmy’s. Tactically he has ridden the right race behind the favourite but we didn’t get the favours when we wanted,” Snowden said.
“With only a hundred metres to go he was two-and-a-half lengths behind the winner and he has run it down to a head.
“It was good to see him hit the line hard and through the line he was excellent. He is on track.”
Bred by Cressfield, Hidden Motive (3 c Capitalist – Secret Agenda by Not A Single Doubt) was purchased by his trainer and Kurrinda Bloodstock for $120,000 at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and is the best of three winners from four foals to race out of the Robert Sangster Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m)-winning mare Secret Agenda (Not A Single Doubt).
Secret Agenda died in December last year, with her last foal being a yearling filly by Zoustar (Northern Meteor). Hidden Motive became the 27th individual stakes winner for Newgate Farm’s Capitalist, who stands for a fee of $44,000 (inc GST).