Gimcrack Stakes winner Bel Merci won’t be seen during the upcoming spring carnival, but trainer John Thompson is confident another of his talented juveniles can step up in her absence.
Thompson confirmed that Bel Merci is set for a lengthy spell after encountering a series of setbacks during her time off, including a virus and foot issues, ruling her out for the rest of 2025.
“She went to the paddock and had a virus and feet issues so she is out for an extended break,” Thompson said. “She’ll miss the spring.”
While disappointed to lose the precocious filly for the carnival, Thompson is optimistic that stablemate Open Secret can emerge as a leading contender heading into her three-year-old season.
Open Secret resumes on Saturday in the Keenland September Yearling Sale Handicap (1100m) at Randwick and has already attracted significant market attention, with her odds firming from $15 to $10.
A debut winner at Randwick in January, Open Secret showed plenty of promise in high-quality company, finishing within two lengths of Rivellino in the Inglis Millennium (1100m) and Within The Law in the Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m).
She was spelled after finishing midfield in the Magic Night Stakes (1200m), but Thompson says she has returned in good shape and is ready to perform strongly first-up.
“She won well first-up (last time in) and I think it just took the edge off her,” Thompson said.
“Her next couple of runs, she was obviously up in grade in the Millennium and the fillies’ lead-ins to the Golden Slipper, but she still ran sixth in all of them and she has come back better now.”
Saturday’s Randwick assignment will mark the final two-year-old metropolitan race of the current season, with a strong lineup including Pierro Plate victor Shaggy, talented colt Nashville Jack, and the impressive Gosford debut winner Nazwah all set to compete.
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