He finished third, beaten a neck and half a length by Sadler's Wells and Procida, giving the impression that he would be suited by a longer distance.

[3] In the 1984 Derby, which, was the most valuable race ever run in Europe with a first prize of £227,680, Secreto started at odds of 14/1 in a field of seventeen runners.

The two Irish-trained colts began to pull away from the opposition and in what Timeform described as a "thrilling" finish, Secreto led in the last strides to win by a short head.

[2] The result was only confirmed after the stewards rejected an objection lodged by Eddery, who claimed that Secreto had leaned in and interfered with his horse in the closing stages.

[2] The colt never ran again, being withdrawn successively from the Irish Derby, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Benson & Hedges Gold Cup.

[2] In their book A Century of Champions, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Secreto as an "inferior" Derby winner.