FOZZY Stack trained his first European Group 1 winner on Sunday when Thesecretadversary made virtually all the running under Christophe Soumillon to win the Prix Jean Prat at Deauville.

Winner of the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot last month, Thesecretadversary made the most of his draw on the nearside rail. Soumillon, deputising the suspended Seamie Heffernan, set a steady pace in this seven-furlong contest and had enough in reserve to hold off multiple Group 1 winner True Love by half a length. Nighttime was a close third, just in front of Samangan. The well-fancied Rayif, winner of the Poule d'Essai des Poulains in May, was a disappointing fifth.

Stack's only other previous win at the top level was in 2023 when he saddled Aspen Grove to win the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks.

A colt by St Mark's Basilica, Thesecretadversary was bred and is owned by the South African Cayton Park Stud in partnership with Coolmore, where they board their mares.

He was one of two Royal Ascot runners for Stack last month - the other being Nola Soul, who won the Chesham Stakes.

Thesecretadversary had previously fallen short when tackling Group 1 events, hitting trouble in running at Woodbine last year and also not showing his true colours in both the Newmarket and Curragh editions of the 2000 Guineas.

Stack told Sky Sports Racing: “That was great and we thought he would run well but we were taking on two Guineas winners which is tough, especially one away from home and another who doesn’t live too far from us.

“It’s a great day and I would like to thank the Rupert and Magnier families (owners) for sending us this horse and his last two days have been unbelievable.

“Seamie spoke to Christophe earlier and told him about the horse and Christophe asked if I would mind if he made the running as there was no pace. I said 'don’t fight with him and just don’t get beat' and he carried that out to perfection!

“This horse has a great constitution and he’s very tough. Both Christophe and Seamie have said they see six furlongs as no problem and he’s getting quicker. For a horse we thought would get a mile and maybe a little bit with it, he’s getting quicker.

“We trained his grandmother (Scream Blue Murder) and she was a sprinter and a lot of the family have been sprinters so maybe he’s returning to type.

“We’ll see how he comes out of this and get home and we’ll make a plan.

“He’s been on the go since just before Ascot as a two-year-old and has been to Canada and we’ve thrown a lot of things at him but he keeps coming back.”

Commenting on his success this season, Stack said: “If you said to me a month ago I would have had two Royal Ascot winners and then a Group 1 at Deauville I would have said ‘stop it’, it’s amazing.”

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