HIDDEN MOTIVE READY FOR NEW CAMPAIGN OPENER AT RANDWICK

SMART Newcastle three-year-old Hidden Motive at Royal Randwick on Saturday begins a new campaign which connections hope reaps further black type success.

Hidden Motive races in the Kurrinda Bloodstock colours, and Tim Clark will ride the colt in the Listed Fireball Stakes (1100m) against his own age.

Clark partnered Hidden Motive for the first time in a Rosehill Gardens 1030m barrier trial victory last Monday.

Already a Group 2 winner (Roman Consul Stakes, 1200m at Rosehill last October), the colt’s autumn targets will become clearer after Saturday’s race.

“We won the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) with Private Harry last year, and there’s a chance Hidden Motive could go to that race on March 21,” Kurrinda principal Sean Driver said today.

"But more than likely he will stay against his own age, and run in the Darby Munro Stakes and Arrowfield 3YO Sprint, both at 1200m.”

The Listed Darby Munro is at Rosehill on March 21 (same day as The Galaxy), and Group 2 $1m Arrowfield is at Royal Randwick on April 11.

Hidden Motive, a son of Capitalist, has won three of his nine starts.

Kurrinda enjoyed interstate success at Eagle Farm yesterday with Galactic Star ($5) in the Class 3 Handicap (1000m) on resumption, taking his record to two wins from three starts.

Meanwhile, the reports are good about Private Harry, who is with new trainer Chris Waller at Rosehill and being readied for a Brisbane winter campaign.

“Private Harry is sound, and looks fantastic,” Driver said.

“He had six weeks’ groundwork at Wild Oaks Farm, and Chris is very pleased with his progress.

“At this stage Private Harry will resume in the Group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on May 2, and then go to the Group 1 Doomben Ten Thousand (1200m) a fortnight later.

“Both are run at weight-for-age.”

Private Harry’s younger half-brother, three-year-old Lance Corporal (by Anders) is in work with Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle, being prepared to belatedly kick off his career.

“He was to have trialled at Gosford last Friday, but the session was called off because of rain,” Driver said.

“Lance Corporal instead will have a soft trial at Wyong on Thursday.”

Kurrinda also purchased both Private Harry and Lance Corporal’s younger to-year-old half-sister by Capitalist, and she has been named Lady Lieutenant.

“Lady Lieutentant has been in and out of Nathan’s two or three times being educated, and is currently enjoying a break at our property in the Hunter,” Driver said.

Unfortunately, one of Kurrinda’s flag-bearers Boston Rocks is also at the property after undergoing colic surgery.

“We nearly lost him, but thankfully he has recovered and will have a good break,” Driver said.

Hellbent five-year-old Boston Rocks, who has won in both Sydney and Melbourne, was to have contested last week’s Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, MARCH 1, 2026