Highlands Stud’s successful resident stallion Pathfork is the sire of Saturday’s For The Ladies Stakes winner Secret Star.
The latter, who was bred by Highlands, made it win number six when defying top-weight of 60kgs to land Saturday’s 1200m contest by a short head over the very gallant Spring Wonder.
Secret Star, who is trained by Stuart Pettigrew, has built up a great relationship with Piere Strydom, who partnered the filly to victory on Saturday. Strydom has now won five times on Secret Star, who has now banked over R450 000 in prize money.
Out of the winning Western Winter mare Flowing Stars, Secret Star was a R150 000 buy from the 2015 March Yearling Sale.
She is one of 30 South African winners to have emerged from Pathfork’s first crop, which also includes G3 Godolphin Barb Stakes Red Chesnut Road.
A son of US champion sire Distorted Humor (North America’s Leading Broodmare Sire in 2017 ), Pathfork is from the same family as champion Australian sire Redoute’s Choice, the sire of recently crowned Australian champion sire Snitzel.