James Cummings’ Group 1 winning mare In Secret is favourite to return to best second-up in Saturday’s 2023 The Shorts at Randwick.

James Cummings’ classy mare In Secret is favourite to take out the 2023 The Shorts in Sydney on Saturday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The countdown to the world’s richest turf race continues with a field of potential The Everest-bound horses facing off in the Group 2 $1 million The Shorts (1100m) this weekend.

Sitting top of The Shorts odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au is Godolphin’s four-year-old daughter of I Am Invincible, In Secret, well-liked by the punters at $3.30.

A six-time winner from 11 starts to date In Secret chases her first victory since the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) down the famous ‘Straight Six’ at Flemington back in March.

Fresh this prep she ran a terrific second only a nose beaten by Remarque in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) here a fortnight back.

Second-up In Secret presents fit and she will relish the extra 100m here as she looks to secure a slot in the $20 million The Everest (1200m) on October 14.

The danger occupying the second line of The Shorts betting into $5.50 is the early market mover Overpass drawn the rails.

The Bjorn Baker-trained Vancouver five-year-old won the $4 million The Quokka in WA back in mid-April before a last start second only a half-length off last year’s The Everest champion Giga Kick in Brisbane’s Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m).

Overpass was sixth in The Everest results 2.72 lengths behind the winning three-year-old at 50/1 last spring, but is sure to get another go at the title this season if he shows up well fresh in The Shorts like he did when second to Nature Strip in the event last year.

A further two runners are also under double-figures in The Shorts markets this season with last start winners Buenos Noches ($7.50) and Remarque ($7.50) draw well in barriers three and two respectively.

The Matthew Smith-trained Buenos Noches is a four-year-old son of Supido and the entire is putting together a nice record.

He has form around In Secret when third to her in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m0 last Melbourne Cup Carnival before his Newmarket fifth only 2.55 lengths beaten.

Fresh he returned to winning form with an eye-catching victory over Argentia in Randwick’s roup 3 Show County Quality (1200m0 on August 19 carrying 58.5kg to victory.

In The Shorts he will appreciate coming back to 56kg and dropping down in distance over the 1100m which he has a strong record over (4:2-1-0).

He has been kept fresh since the Show County, but was strong in a September 5 winning hit-out at Rosehill to keep him ticking over.

The Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes-trained Remarque meanwhile is also looking to go two-from-two this campaign with the five-year-old having defeated a crack field including In Secret (2^nd) and Bella Nipotina (3^rd) in the Concorde.

The 2023 The Shorts is set to run as Randwick Race 8 at 4:00pm (AEST) with markets from Ladbrokes.com.au available in full by clicking here.

2023 The Shorts Final Field & Barrier Draw

Table Credit: Racing Australia.