Happy days

A gritty win against her mainly older rivals in the New Zealand St Leger Trial (2100m) has set talented three-year-old filly Shared Secrets up for a tilt at a Group One title next month. The Mark Oulaghan trained, bred and part-owned filly had finished an eye-catching fourth in the Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham before tackling Saturday’s contest for the three and four-year-olds at Otaki. Settled beautifully just off the speed by rider Masa Tanaka, the Nadeem filly lobbed along comfortably before issuing her challenge early in the run home. ‘‘She went a beauty at Trentham in the Desert Gold so we thought we might have a go at the Oaks with her,’’ he said. ‘‘We really just needed to know whether she would stay or not and I think we got the answer we were looking for.’’