No whispering required about Queensland Eureka runner

By Jordan Gerrans

The star reinsman who lifted Wisper A Secret to an eye-catching effort in the Discovery Stakes has backed the boom Queensland pacer to again make his presence felt in The Eureka on Saturday evening at Menangle.

With regular driver Pete McMullen opting to remain in the Sunshine State last Saturday, Jack Callaghan got the surprise call-up for the job on Wisper A Secret.

The 22-year-old Callaghan is well-known to local harness fans as the man who ended Leap To Fame’s brilliant winning sequence at Redcliffe in the Patron’s Purse behind District Attorney at the start of the 2024 Queensland Constellations.

The multiple Group 1-champion in the bike had never driven for the McMullen and Chantal Turpin team before Saturday’s Discovery Stakes.

He could not have been more impressed with the way Wisper A Secret performed.

The gelding produced one of the runs of the race, coming from way back in the field to storm to the line and finish seven metres behind winner and fellow Queenslander Sure Thing Captain.

“I thought he could not have been any better, he went as well as horses can really, if I am being honest,” Callaghan said.

“Coming home in the times he did while being wide over 2300 metres, he could not have gone much better.

“He gave me a great feel – with that being the first time I had been behind him – and he was a well-mannered horse.

“He relaxed beautifully right throughout the race and as soon as I asked him to go, he savaged the line.

"He did everything perfect really.”

McMullen and Turpin missed out on the slot for The Eureka on offer in the Discovery Stakes which was handed to winner Sure Thing Captain, who is prepared by Shannon Price.

Wisper A Secret – who claimed The Rising Sun during the recent Constellations – was gifted a late call-up for the richest harness race in the world following the withdrawal of Fighter Command.

Fighter Command was set to race in the slot of the Tasmanian racing industry.

The Tasmanian authorities quickly pivoted and selected the Sunshine State’s Wisper A Secret to represent them in the 2300 metre show-piece event on Saturday night.

While he did not do the driving himself, McMullen was pleased with how Wisper A Secret attacked the line in the Discovery Stakes.

“He was super,” McMullen said.

“Obviously he had been racing well before that.

“We were disappointed to not get a slot initially, but he did not win the race, and we are in there now and that is the main thing.”

Queensland will be playing a key role at Menangle on Saturday night, with Free Thinker and Sure Thing Captain in The Eureka alongside Wisper A Secret.

Sure Thing Captain is on the second line of betting at $4.40 as of Friday morning while Free Thinker – who won into the race via The Hayden – is considered an outsider of the field.

McMullen regains the job on Wisper A Secret on Saturday and says he goes into the race with an open mind after drawing six and knowing his gelding has smart gate speed.

‘Leader Pete’ also noted that while Wisper A Secret prefers to go into races fresh, he has no worries with the seven day back-up into The Eureka.

As of Friday morning, Wisper A Secret is rated a $7 chance with the bookmakers in the $2.1 million event.

On his performance in the Discovery Stakes, Callaghan anticipates he will be mighty-competitive.

“He is definitely a great chance as it is an even race,” the young reinsman said.

“It will be about the luck in running but this horse has great tactical speed and he can put himself in position where he can obtain that type of luck.

“His chance is as good as ever really. He drew pretty well for where he is eligible to draw.

“As long as he puts in a performance like he did last week, which I am sure he will, I think he is a great chance really.”

Wisper A Secret has won 12 of his 29 starts, including the Group 1 The Rising Sun at Albion Park in July.

While McMullen is hopeful his four-year-old gelded son of Huntsville can claim the ultimate prize on Saturday evening, he would love to see any of the three Queenslanders walk away with victory.

“It is going to be a great race,” McMullen said.

“It is more even race now; it will be a very interesting race.

“Hopefully it is us to be the first Queenslander to win it but if not, it would be great for any of the Queenslanders to win the race.”

The Group 1 Len Smith Mile will also headline racing from Menangle on Saturday evening.

Fellow Price runner Speak The Truth will start from three in the race while Callaghan will partner Major Moth for master trainer Jason Grimson.

With three straight wins to his name – including two at Albion Park – Callaghan is optimistic he can add to his Group 1 tally of seven in the time-honoured event.  

“I am really looking forward to getting back on him again,” the top reinsman said.

“He has been ultra-impressive all throughout the starts I have driven him in. He is full of confidence so I expect him to be very hard to beat.”