Young couple shine in $345,000 G1 event

A decision 12 months ago by Queensland breeder-owner Doug Johnston to reject a $150,000 American offer for his three-year-old Wisper A Secret (Huntsville) is now looking like good business!

Wisper A Secret scored an emphatic harness racing victory in one of Australia’s most prestigious three- and four-year-old features, the $345,000 Gr 1 Racing and Sports Rising Sun at Albion Park tonight (July 13).

“I wasn’t too sure at the time when Doug told me.  I said, are you sure?  It’s a lot of money – I don’t know if you should be!” young trainer Chantal Turpin said.

“Now I’m just pretty emotional and very proud of him.”

The win gave Turpin and her driver husband Pete McMullen, of Somerset Farms, the biggest win of their respective careers.

It was also a second consecutive Rising Sun for Queensland, after Leap To Fame’s victory in the event last year.

Wisper A Secret has had 12 wins from just 27 starts, and had won four in a row before his previous outing at Albion Park on June 1, when the four-year-old finished a disappointing sixth.

“Chantal has done a wonderful job in getting him spot on tonight.  He failed last start and she turned him around, he was perfect tonight,” driver Pete McMullen said after the race.

“It’s very special because we broke him in and have had him right through. He was always a neat little horse, and always did a good job all the way through.

“He’s just got bigger and better each year.  He really put the writing on the wall a while back putting a couple of 1.50 miles and that’s when we realised he was going to take the next step.”

McMullen acknowledged his wife’s role in turning Wisper A Secret around when his campaign plans were derailed by the disappointment six weeks ago.

“All his career he has raced pretty well fresh, and we were pretty happy to get the invite last week.  We had to miss the Queensland Sun which kind of threw a spanner in the works, but it all worked out for the better.”

Wisper A Secret drew barrier 10 and settled third-last in the field, avoiding a sustained early battle for speed.  Soho Spectre (Michael Stanley) led from barrier 2 with Don Hugo (Luke McCarthy) caught three wide early, then working to the breeze.

McMullen moved Wisper A Secret three wide at the bell, and despite last half splits of 27.4 and 27.7, found plenty in the straight, scoring by a half-head from Don Hugo and Aroda (Grant Dixon).

WISPER A SECRET REPLAY

“He toughed it out great. It worked out great being able to get back to two wide at the four hundred and I knew on the bend he would fight on, he gives his all, so I was pretty confident at the top of the stretch,” McMullen said.

Cameron Hart, driver of race favorite Frankie Ferocious, reported after the race that he suffered a punctured tyre at the 1400 metre mark.  Lux Aeterna (Rickie Alchin) was pulled up and was diagnosed with a cardiac arrhythmia post-race.

It was the fourth edition of the Rising Sun, previously won by Amazing Dream, Ladies in Red and Leap to Fame.

“Each of those years I have been in there out the back chasing them home and wishing I had a horse good enough,” McMullen said.

“Tonight, albeit a few of those good ones aren’t here, this guy stepped up and got the job done.”

Pete and Chantal, both aged 32, established Somerset Farms, about an hours drive from Brisbane, in 2012.

“Leader Pete” as he’s known, has driven 3056 winners, which now includes four Group Ones. He has landed 142 victories this season – remarkably topping the ton for the past 15 years.

Chantal has stamped herself as an astute trainer over the past 10 years recording over 100 wins each season and 1559 in total. She’s sitting on 87 this season, but is sure to crack the century mark again.

Thoroughbred Central presenter Brittany Graham suggested in a post-race interview that a slot in the $2 million TAB Eureka might not be completely off the radar for Wisper A Secret.

“If there’s anyone with a slot and they’re looking for a horse, I think we’ve got one!” McMullen laughed.

For complete race results, click here.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink