Throwback Thursday

See some of our favourite shots of Chas in our video clip above

As we head towards the last day of the Hawke's Bay Spring Carnival this weekend, we thought we'd travel back to revisit our own home-grown star Distinctly Secret.  “Chas” (as he is known) not only won the Group 1 Kelt Capital Stakes (now known at the Group 1 Livamol Classic) he ran in four successive “Kelt's” finishing second to Prized Gem in 2002 and second to Xcellent in 2005.

Distinctly Secret was bred at Te Akau Stud by David Ellis and won 10 races from 1300m to 2200m including New Zealand's richest race of 2003, the $750,000 Group 1 Kelt Capital Stakes. That year he claimed the $A300,000 Group 2 Grand Prix Stakes (2100m) at Eagle Farm and the $120,000 Listed Rough Habit Plate (2200m) at Doomben, breaking track records on both occasions.

Distinctly Secret also was runner up in the $A500,000 Group 2 Sandown Classic, 3rd and 4th in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup and 6th & 7th in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup. His final successes came with back to back wins in the Group 2 Lawnmaster Awapuni Gold Cup in 2004 and 2005.

He was retired in 2006 with more than $1.8 million in stakes and remains in the loving care of his strapper Renee Bell (photos below).  Trained by Mark Walker throughout his career, Distinctly Secret is by Distinctly North from Te Akau Secret and is another Group 1 winner bred by David Ellis at Te Akau Stud.