Thesecretadversary delivered a second Royal Ascot winner from just two runners for Irish trainer Fozzy Stack when the three-year-old overcame a 3lb penalty to land Saturday’s Group 3 Jersey Stakes, providing South African owner-breeder Gaynor Rupert’s Cayton Park Stud and the Magnier family with a notable success on the final day of the meeting.

Sent off at 20/1, Thesecretadversary was given a positive ride by Seamie Heffernan and struck for home entering the final two furlongs. The colt gained first run on fellow Irish challenger Take Charge Star and had enough in reserve to repel that rival by a neck. The first two drew four and a half lengths clear of Morris Dancer, who filled third.

The victory added further substance to a campaign that had already seen Thesecretadversary win a Group 3 contest at Leopardstown before respectable efforts in both the English and Irish 2,000 Guineas, where he finished fifth and sixth respectively.

Stack's Confidence Rewarded

While the market allowed Thesecretadversary to start at generous odds, Stack revealed the result was far from unexpected from his perspective.

“Thesecretadversary put in huge performances in two Classics, when things didn’t go his way. He had a 3lb penalty, but this wasn’t a surprise to me – I was surprised how much he drifted to be honest,” said Stack.

The trainer pointed to the fine margins that often determine success at Royal Ascot and highlighted the significance of securing two winners from such a small team.

“Ninety percent of the horses here are good horses and they just need luck and for everything to go right. It was lovely to get one winner and two is unbelievable. I am so pleased for the owners Mrs Gaynor Rupert and the Magnier family, who have been great supporters.”

The success followed Nola Soul’s victory in Thursday’s Listed Chesham Stakes, giving Stack a perfect strike-rate from his two runners at the 2026 Royal Meeting.

Heffernan Sees Further Potential

Heffernan's post-race assessment suggested the Jersey Stakes winner may still have more to offer. Significantly, the jockey believes the colt's previous Classic efforts were better than the bare results indicate.

“Thesecretadversary is our best three-year-old colt,” said Heffernan. “He won a Guineas trial and then ran a blinder in the English Guineas, where he was too keen and too fresh. Then in the Irish Guineas we got boxed in. Those two races did not go to plan – he should have been placed.”

Heffernan noted that dropping back in trip played a key role in Saturday’s performance.

“Fozzy said the Jersey Stakes straight away. He had a penalty but there would be no hard-luck stories. He travelled strongly. He has loads of pace, probably more pace than we have seen. He lights up on the track and dropping back in trip definitely helped. He could go back another furlong. He is a good horse and it is brilliant that it has worked out.”

The rider also paid tribute to the trainer’s achievement, adding that the stable had arrived at Royal Ascot hoping both runners would perform well and instead left with two victories.

Runner-Up Enhances His Reputation

Although beaten, Take Charge Star emerged with considerable credit after finishing clear of the remainder of the field.

Trainer Johnny Murtagh described the colt as the standout horse in his stable and felt conditions had played directly to his strengths.

“Take Charge Star is a very good horse – he is the best horse I have in the stable,” said Murtagh. “A good, fast pace and fast ground were always going to suit him, and I thought he was coming. In fairness to the winner, he kept going.”

The margin back to the third horse was particularly noteworthy and underlined the quality of the first two home.

“They went four lengths clear of the third, so you have to be very proud,” Murtagh added.

Green Sense Bound For Saratoga

Fourth-placed Green Sense also attracted attention after her Royal Ascot debut.

David Redvers revealed that the filly had recently been acquired by Boyd Racing and indicated that a campaign in the United States is likely to follow.

“Her racing style and form are perfectly suited to American racing,” said Redvers. “The idea was that we would run her here, see how she went and then head to Saratoga, probably.”

For Stack and Thesecretadversary, however, the final word belonged to a performance that validated the confidence shown by connections and added another significant Royal Ascot success to both trainer and jockey records.