France: Thesecretadversary keeps it short, takes Prix Jean Prat

Thesecretadversary lost three Group 1 or Grade 1 races at a mile in Canada and Europe last fall and this spring.

It turns out he is most effective as a sprinter.

After winning the Group 3 Jersey Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs at Royal Ascot in Britain on June 20, Thesecretadversary won his first Group 1 race in Sunday’s $456,000 Prix Jean Prat for 3-year-old colts and fillies at seven furlongs at Deauville, France.

Ridden by Christophe Soumillon, Thesecretadversary (who paid $16 in American pools) led throughout the Prix Jean Prat, run on a straightaway course. Thesecretadversary held a narrow advantage over Nighttime for the first five furlongs and won by three-quarters of a length over the filly True Love, the 8-5 second choice.

“Everything went perfectly throughout the race,” Soumillon told the press. “I was never really under any pressure and when I asked him to quicken he responded extremely well.

“I think seven furlongs is really the limit of his stamina. Over six furlongs, however, I believe he would be just as effective.”

True Love, the winner of the Group 1 English 1000 Guineas at a mile at Newmarket in May, gained second at the wire, finishing a head in front of 5-1 Nighttime, the winner of the Group 2 Prix Paul de Moussac for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs at Longchamp on June 7.

Rayif, the 3-2 favorite, finished fifth, beaten 1 ¼ lengths in his second start of 2026. Rayif won the Group 1 French 2000 Guineas at Longchamp at a mile on May 10 in his first start of the year.

Thesecretadversary, trained in Ireland by Fozzy Stack for Cayton Park Stud and Susan Magnier, has won 4 of 10 starts. The wins in the Jersey Stakes and Prix Jean Prat are the first time he has won consecutive starts.

Stack, who won the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks with Aspen Grove at Belmont Park in 2023, won his first European Group 1 with Thesecretadversary, who is by St. Mark’s Basilica.

Stack said that Thesecretadversary has been nominated to two Group 1 races in Britain for 3-year-olds and older horses – the $800,000 City of York Stakes at seven furlongs at York Racecourse on Aug. 22, and the $536,000 Sprint Cup at six furlongs at Haydock Park on Sept. 5.

All four of Thesecretadversary’s wins have been at distances ranging from seven furlongs to 7 1/2 furlongs.

Thesecretadversary won the Churchill Stakes at 7 1/2 furlongs at Tipperary Racecourse in Ireland last August, and was fifth of 10 in the Grade 1 Summer Stakes at Woodbine last September in his final start as a 2-year-old.

Earlier this year, Thesecretadversary won the Group 3 Red Rocks Stakes at seven furlongs at Leopardstown Racecourse in Ireland in April, but was fifth in the English 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and sixth in the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh, both at a mile in May.

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