Jockey Andrew Adkins is thrilled to be part of King’s Secret’s rise through the ranks, with the gelding notching his fourth win this campaign and clinching the BOBS Horse of the Year title at Randwick on Saturday.

The half-brother to Group 1 star Private Eye, King’s Secret ($6.50) proved too strong in the Petaluma Handicap (1100m), holding off favourite Stardeel ($3.90 betting fav) to secure the title for eligible two and three-year-olds collecting the most bonus prizemoney throughout the season.

All four of his victories have come since April, and Adkins, who has ridden him throughout the prep, believes the Joe Pride-trained gelding is only just beginning to realise his potential.

“Joe and his team keep raising the bar and he keeps saying, ‘how high?’” Adkins said. “He’s really coming into his own this prep. You can feel the maturity in him now.”

Adkins noted a change in King’s Secret’s demeanor leading into the race, something he sees as a sign of continued development.

“He was so calm going to the gates — that’s a first,” Adkins said. “He’s learning to switch on and do all the right things. He’s starting to understand the winning process now.”

The only blemish in the current campaign came with an off run at Rosehill last month, which Pride was quick to address.

“Joe took responsibility for that run. He said, ‘I had him too fresh.’ He went back, did the work, and came back with a win. Full credit to Joe and his staff,” Adkins explained.

With Joe Pride in Melbourne overseeing stablemate In Flight in the Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m), stable rep Orla Pearl praised Adkins’ connection with King’s Secret.

“Andrew knows the horse inside out,” Pearl said. “Before the race, he said we’d ride the horse, not the race. That’s what he did.”

She added that the horse’s pedigree and connection to Private Eye made the victory even more meaningful for the stable.

“It’s rare to see a mare throw consistent winners like this. Having the family in the stable, it’s something we all cherish,” Pearl said.

This marks the second straight season a Pride-trained galloper has taken out BOBS Horse of the Year, following In Flight’s triumph in 2023-24.

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