Young chaser creating his own secret story at Capalaba

By Jordan Gerrans

There is nothing secret about the story a promising young chaser is creating down the grass straight of Capalaba in 2025.

After lifting the coveted Capalaba Cup crown earlier this year, Secret Story remarkably recorded his fifth feature victory in recent months at the boutique Brisbane club on Sunday afternoon when he scored in the Capalaba Derby.

The promising youngster has taken all before him at the track in recent months after only recently ticking past two years of age.

Secret Story recorded his quickest time of 19.25 seconds at Capalaba when landing the money in Michael Miller Memorial Final in late August.

The enormity of Secret Story’s achievements over the last few months is not lost on New South Wales dog man Michael Jones who bred and races the black greyhound. 

“We are extremely excited about him, he is a high-quality dog,” the owner and breeder said.

“It has been a great ride and a lot of fun for the whole family.

“He broke in quick and I would say every trial; he probably trialed best of the day every time. 

“He has always shown the ability. It is really exciting for my wife and I, as well as my kids, to watch him race.

“It has been incredible watching him, considering his age.”

Celebrated race caller and form analyst John 'Bunny' Brasch described Secret Story as the ‘Capalaba specialist’ in the run of Sunday’s Capalaba Derby.  

In 15 trips to Capalaba from Tom Tzouvelis’ Park Ridge kennel, the son of Shima Shine and Ice Cream Story is yet to finish outside of the money for 11 victories and four minor placings, including three second-placed finishes. 

There have been many straight track heroes in recent years such as Valhalla, Columbian King and Leeroy Rogue, among others, but it is rare to see a young dog achieve such Capalaba glory like Secret Story is accomplishing. 

It is a bittersweet feeling for the Jones clan who base themselves at Nabiac, which is south of Taree on the Mid North Coast of NSW.

They raced Secret Story’s mother Ice Cream Story who qualified for several Group Finals before her career was cut short following an injury in the Newcastle Cup of 2021.

Secret Story and his four littermates are from Ice Cream Story’s second litter. 

The first litter produced several city winners.

Secret Story already has a Group 2 Capalaba Cup on his resume with there being a fair chance there is more feature glory on the horizon for the talented chaser. 

“It is nice to see the quality we thought she had, she has been able to throw that into her pups by producing Group-class off-spring,” Jones said.

“She made a few Group races before we retired her. She is our pet and she follows me around everywhere I walk, all day long.

“She is a beautiful dog.

“Our lines are throwing Group-class, with other dogs like Autumn Storm, so hopefully it can continue.”

Secret Story has competed on the circle, winning three of his eight attempts over the 457 metre trip at Q1 Lakeside.

After collecting the Michael Miller Memorial, Capalaba Young Guns, Chicka Scott Appreciation, Capalaba Cup and Capalaba Derby, Jones and his wife Michelle are in no rush to head back to The Q.

But, they will leave all plans to master conditioner Tzouvelis and his team. 

“We definitely see him going back to the circle at some stage but there have been so many opportunities at Capalaba,” Jones said.

“He has been going so well at the track and there are so many opportunities for him to earn prizemoney there.

“It makes sense to keep him at Capalaba and try continuing ticking the races off because he has a good track record of doing it so far.”

Following the Capalaba Cup, Tzouvelis was full of praise for his straight tracker. 

“I was confident knowing the form of Secret Story because in my opinion, he has been the best dog at Capalaba this year,” Tzouvelis said.

The Jones’ of Nabiac have enjoyed immense Queensland success in recent years.

Secret Story’s Capalaba fortunes have been joined by Autumn Storm and Prim and Precise who have collectively won 32 races.

Prim and Precise has been retired and will join the Jones’ breeding operation while Autumn Storm – the Dashing Corsair Final champion from earlier this year – is also edging towards retirement and will also become a broodbitch in the not too distant future. 

Autumn Strom is out of the Jones clan’s beloved broodbitch Look Fancy Nancy.