Youngster Hidden Agenda lands 2022 Publicans Cup

By Jordan Gerrans

Anthony Short knows the Fernvale Flyer line like the back of his hand and he is getting the best out of the latest progeny.

Young dog Hidden Agenda scored in the 2022 Publicans Cup Final at Albion Park on Thursday evening, grabbing his sixth victory from just his 13^th career start.

The Short family raced Hidden Agenda’s mother Fernvale Ruby – who won 18 times – and before that, they had Fernvale Flyer.

While Fernvale Flyer only won once from almost 30 attempts, she is producing since she finished up at the track.

Hidden Agenda is a promising young dog while Sandra Hunt’s Feel The Beat – among others - also comes from the Fernvale Flyer line.

“They are flying, I am really pleased with it,” the Seventeen Mile Rocks-based trainer said.

“She has produced some really good litters.

“Fernvale Flyer was the first one, we kept her and bred with her and it has turned out great.”

Hidden Agenda is only a lightly-raced youngster, running in the money in nine of his 13 trips to the races.

From box seven on Thursday, Hidden Agenda sat mid-field for much of the 520-metre trip before finishing over the top of race favourite Fernando Grand in the closing stages.

Despite being the fastest heat winner in 30.06 seconds seven days prior, Hidden Agenda started at $14 in the Final.

“He has come back and he has gone from strength to strength, he is a good young dog,” Short said.

“I could not believe his price – I am not a big punter – but the blokes I was talking to could not believe his price, they were thinking what’s going on here.”

The trainer was pleased to finally defeat Fernando Grand after the dog got the better of Hidden Agenda twice earlier this year.

Following the Publicans Cup triumph, Short considered heading to the upcoming Young Guns series with Hidden Agenda but says he may now avoid it and just put the dog through his grades.

Short and Hidden Agenda were representing Carina Leagues Club in the Publicans Cup Final for 2022.

The Carina Leagues Club now gets their name etched on the perpetual trophy and all the bragging rights that are associated with it.

The pubs represented by the first three home in the Final - Hidden Agenda, Fernando Grand and Tomahawk Hayze - all receive a 12-month sponsorship package with the club.

Veteran trainer Short was a proud man to win the feature race in front of a packed crowd.

“It was full on Thursday night,” Short said.

“It is a beautiful, lovely trophy, as well, it is very nice.”

The Short team has just two in work, with Hidden Agenda’s kennel mate Bella's Blessed – who is also from a Fernvale Ruby litter – set to go around at Ipswich on Friday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the Raymond Burman kennel prepared a winning double on Thursday night at Albion Park.