Trots Centre: Secret's out as Grahams build on dynasty

The trots have given Garry Graham and his family so much and the appreciative Bendigo trainer is excited at the prospect of even more.

Heza Secret has his third start for Graham in tonight’s Strath Hill Butcher Pace at Lords Raceway, which his training property abuts, and he's optimstic his four-year-old home-bred gelding can build on the impressive start to his career.

“It’s nice when you breed them, do all the works and can see the fruits of the work you put in,” Graham said.

He shares ownership with wife Melva and daughter Kirsten, who he credits for much of their success, having all ridden the highs of the family’s involvement, which has been more in breeding than training.

Heza Secret is a fourth generation Graham horse who stretches back to his purchase of a mare from Kevin Newbound.

“We bought a mare called Classic Kate from the sales, it could have been 35 years ago,” Graham said. “She did a good job and was a fabulous broodmare.

“Everything we have got is because of her. The horses have given us the property we’ve got, have the house fully paid for.”

Classic Kate, a 1981 foal who was by Batman out of Gay Debutante, produced 12 foals, including Sports Dancer ($162,018) and Sister Dancer, who would in turn have 11 foals, including Royal Verdict ($537,522), Modern Girl ($122,135) and Hexham Heartbeat ($120,079).

“Sister Dancer threw Royal Verdict, who’s the only juvenile in current times to have won every Group 1 race as a two-year-old,” Graham said.

“She’s given us a very good outcome in harness racing. I went into it in a small part and it grew and grew and grew and now I have five broodmares and have 17 or 18 retired horses and I have enjoyed every minute of it.”

Sister Dancer also produced Three Secrets, whose first foal is tonight’s entrant.

“Heza Secret went to sale with $16,000 on him and made it to 12 or 13 thousand, so we brought him home,” Graham said. “He’s a promising horse. I don’t want to put the cart before the horse, but if he stays sounds he is on an easy mark and has good potential.”

That’s not to say it hasn’t taken plenty of patience to get the late four-year-old to the race track.

“When we broke him in, he was never nasty, but as soon as you put the gear he would stand on the spot and kick for a quarter of an hour,” Graham said. “We didn’t get him in the cart the first time. It took ages, but now he is very trustworthy and a nice-natured horse.

“He has been in work since the beginning of December last year. It has been a long build up and he has taken it all in his stride.”

With his four-year-old season well advanced, Graham finally threw him to the wolves at Bendigo on August 28 and he responded with a promising third, looming a potential winner in the closing stages.

He then followed up with a dominant showing at Shepparton, scoring by 8.5 metres for reinsman Jayden Brewin.

“He run a good race at Bendigo and then we gave him another three or four weeks and he won quite nicely,” Graham said.

“We were happy he was able to burrow through in between horses from the start and not panic. For his lack of ring craft, he handled it very well and won easily.

“(Tonight) is a step up again in class. Amanda Turnbull’s (Star Ruler) is a pretty smart horse, but hopefully we can use this as a stepping stone and he might be able run in the (Vicbred Super Series).”

TALKING TROTS ON SENTRACK:

Join Blake Redden from 11am to 1pm on SENTrack, which airs on 1593AM in Melbourne, 1539AM in Sydney, 657AM in Perth, 801AM in Gosford, 96.9FM in Ingham, 99.1FM in Atherton and 1575AM in Wollongong.

Click here to listen live and for links to download the SEN app.