HOW HIDDEN MOTIVE CAME TO BE SECURED

SUCH can be the vagaries of a yearling sale!

Take the case of promising Newcastle youngster Hidden Motive, who attempts to end his two-year-old season on a winning note at Royal Randwick tomorrow.

The son of Golden Slipper winner Capitalist lines up in the 2YO Handicap (1100m), with Ash Morgan to ride.

Kurrinda Bloodstock director Sean Driver has outlined the story of how he and trainer Nathan Doyle came to secure Hidden Motive after he was offered at the Magic Millions yearling sale at the Gold Coast last year.

“Nathan and myself had him picked out as one of our selections, and we were prepared to go to $150,000 for him,” Driver said.

“We thought we had bought him for $120,000, but he was passed in.

“After going back to his stall at the sale, we discovered the vendor Cressfield had a $200,000 reserve price on the colt.

“Hidden Motive was still at the complex a few hours later, and Cressfield rang back to ask if we were still prepared to pay $120,000 for him, which we did.”

Driver revealed the colt had moderate sesamoiditis, but wasn’t perturbed.

“Provided you look after them the right way, it’s not a problem,” Driver said.

“I was confident we could get Hidden Motive to the races.

“He had a good spell, and Nathan still was able to get him to the first two-year-old race of the season (the Group 3 Breeders Plate, 1000m at Randwick on October 5 last year).”

Hidden Motive at $31 ran an excellent fourth to King Kirk, and was spelled.

Since resuming, the colt has been placed at both Warwick Farm and Randwick before toying with his provincial rivals to break through by nearly four lengths in a 2YO Maiden Plate (1100m) at Hawkesbury on May 15.

Saturday’s assignment will be Hidden Motive’s last start as a two-year-old, and connections have high hopes for him come spring.

“He will have a break for a couple of weeks, and I believe he is a potential Group 1 colt,” Driver said.

“I’m not saying he is in our unbeaten three-year-old Private Harry’s class, but definitely up to a race such as the Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington.

“All going well, that’s our aim with him.”

The Group 1 Coolmore (1200m) for three-year-olds, regarded as a stallion-making race, will be run on November 1 on the opening day of the Melbourne Cup carnival.

Meanwhile, Kurrinda’s talented three-year-old filly Queen’s Rhapsody is on the doubtful list to start at Newcastle tomorrow in a Class 1 Handicap (1250m).

After four consecutive seconds in town, Queen’s Rhapsody was transferred to Doyle’s Newcastle stable and made a winning debut for her new trainer at Hawkesbury the same day Hidden Motive was successful.

“Nathan said he has never seen the Newcastle track so heavy following all the recent rain, and we may not start her tomorrow,” Driver said.

“If we don’t run, there are a couple of options with her at Newcastle next Saturday, and also an option at Hawkesbury on Tuesday week.”

The daughter of So You Think will be partnered by apprentice Mitch Stapleford if she lines up tomorrow.

. HOOFNOTE: Hidden Motive has a Group 1 pedigree, but sadly his dam Secret Agenda (who won the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes in Adelaide) died in December last year.

Story John Curtis, June 6, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos