Fozzy Stack has an enviable decision ahead of him after talented juvenile Thesecretadversary made an impressive return to action in the Group 3 Ballylinch Stud Red Rocks Stakes at Leopardstown.

Owned and bred by Mrs John Magnier and Gaynor Rupert’s Cayton Park Stud, the St Mark’s Basilica colt was last seen finishing an unlucky fifth in a Woodbine Grade 1 in September, having previously landed a listed race and claimed second in the Chesham Stakes.

The striking chesnut was sent off 6/1 under Seamie Heffernan on Sunday and travelled keenly behind the leader in the early stages. Asked to quicken turning for home, he ran on well to lead 150 yards out and was soon in command, striding on to score by two and a half lengths.

The Robson de Aguiar-trained Power Blue finished second on his first start since winning the Phoenix Stakes, for which he carried a 3lb penalty. David Marnane’s 89-rated contender Redemption Road – a €22,000 yearling, who outran odds of 25/1 in third.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained Dorset and Flushing Meadows were sent off joint-favourites, but failed to fire, finishing seventh and eighth respectively. Ballydoyle stablemate Warsaw suffered a worse fate, taking a false step on the home turn and unseating Ronan Whelan, who was replaced on his next mount but returned to the saddle later in the afternoon.

On whether he was expecting such a smart performance, Fozzy Stack said: “He’d been working well. He ran a good race in Ascot last year and won that race in Tipperary, beating a horse who finished second in the Middle Park, so he had a fair level of form.

“He was a little bit keen today. I always thought he might get a mile and a quarter, but looking at that, maybe a mile. He’s in every Guineas bar the Italian Guineas. I entered him in a $1million race in Keeneland the same day as the English Guineas, but he won’t go for that. First world problems!”

Thesecretadversary was subsequently cut from 66/1 to 25/1 for the Newmarket classic.