Ralph Beckett delighted with Secret Gesture ahead of Breeders' Cup

Ralph Beckett was in buoyant mood after supervising his Breeders' Cup Filly And Mare Turf candidate Secret Gesture on the training track at Keeneland this morning.

Secret Gesture showed a liking for US racing when finishing first past the post in the Beverly D. Stakes at Arlington, only to be controversially disqualified for interference.

Beckett is anxious to see his filly put the record straight in Saturday's Grade One contest, in which she will be partnered by US-based Frenchman Florent Geroux.

Beckett ponied Secret Gesture to the Polytrack, and, after watching her cover a couple of circuits, said: "I thought about going back for the Flower Bowl or the E.P Taylor, but she wasn't quite right and hadn't got over Arlington. It was a minor blip, and the main thing is that she knew she had won.

"She's a very athletic filly who can handle fast ground, but the evidence of the form book suggests she handles the soft and that's certainly relevant in this instance.

"I'm happy with the way she travelled over and how she worked this morning."

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There were some raised eyebrows over the choice of jockey, but on that Beckett added: "Andrea Atzeni had come to the end of his contract with the owners and we all agreed on Florent. He's riding well and won the Arlington Million on The Pizza man. He is a former champion apprentice in France."

The trainer never uses Lasix on his US runners and feels strongly the drug should be avoided.

He went on: "It's great that Monsieur (Andre) Fabre leads the way in this area and there should be more of it."

Of Secret Gesture's gate position, Beckett said: "She was drawn wide last time and it's a very similar scenario with a long run to the first bend. It just might suit us."