Cape trainer Vaughan Marshall looks to have another high-class sprinter on his hands from a family that he knows well. He enjoyed the rare pleasure of training both the sire and dam of the very smart The Secret Is Out and the daughter of Captain Al showed that she is as good as her enthusiastic connections believe she is with a courageous victory in the R600 000 Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship at Scottsville on Saturday.
The Secret Is Out (MJ Byleveld) gallops powerfully to make it three from three
Marshall has always been a noted exponent of getting the 2yo’s to come out firing and he celebrated his fourth win in the prestigious Gr1 contest – with a 2yo Gr1 double as Always In Charge was to follow up in the next.
The withdrawal of Sean Tarry’s unbeaten star Cloth Of Cloud robbed racing fans of the opportunity of watching a potentially fascinating showdown of the best of the North take on the Southern Princess, but given the way the race unfolded, The Secret Is Out more than proved her credentials as a leader of her generation.
Only ten fillies lined up in the Gr1 feature and after SA Fillies Nursery winner Fursa had made a hesitant jump and found herself last, it was Mike Azzie’s Announcing Rain that stuck to her station down the outside – while MJ Byleveld had The Secret Is Out relaxed in midfield.
Vaughan Marshall – first leg of Gr1 double
Recent debut winner Poster Girl showed good speed down the inside as they fanned out at the 600m, with Fursa miles out of her ground.
Muzi Yeni was eyeing the inside rail as he took the pacy Blaze Of Mystery across The Secret Is Out at the 500m, but Byleveld wasn’t panicking, calmly steadying and gathering his mount for a late assault.
Into the 350m The Secret Is Out and Blaze Of Mystery came together as Callan Murray got to work, switching Fursa out for a gap, as Visuality and Myfunnyvalentine started unwinding.
With her three opponents hot on her heels, The Secret Is Out finished powerfully to win rather easily by 0,75 lengths in a time of 69 secs.
Fursa ran a cracker and showed that she is crying out for more ground. She held Visuality by a short head, with Myfunnyvalentine staying on well for fourth.
Blaze Of Mystery faded late.
Trainer Vaughan Marshall broke the Mike de Kock stranglehold of the past two years and had The Secret Is Out in fighting trim for Cape-based Basil Nelson and the holidaying Garth Miller.
MJ Byleveld – good winner
“She has a lovely temperament – and I think there is lots more to come. And what a super ride from MJ Byleveld,” said an ecstatic Marshall.
Jockey MJ Byleveld confirmed his trainer’s sentiments – “This filly is good – she is small but has a big action and a big heart. She settled nicely and was good enough to get herself out of trouble when she needed to,” he said.
The Secret Is Out was bred by the BBP Syndicate and is a daughter of Captain Al out of the outstanding six-time winning Secret of Victoria (Goldkeeper).
That makes the winner a full sister to the top class All Is Secret, the 2012 Gr1 Allan Roberston Championship winner, who was also trained by Vaughan Marshall.
Now a dual stakes winner, The Secret Is Out is unbeaten in three starts and took her stakes earnings to R546 875,
With her ability, professional attitude and relaxed disposition, she can be followed.
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Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship (SAf-Gr1)
Scottsville, South Africa, June 4, R600k, 1200m, turf, good, 1.09.09
1 – THE SECRET IS OUT (SAF), 60.0, b f 2, Captain Al (SAF) – Secret Of Victoria (SAF) by Goldkeeper (USA). Owner Messrs G M Miller & B G Nelson; Breeder BBP Syndicate; trainer VH Marshall; jockey M Byleveld
2 – Fursa (AUS), 60.0, b f 2, Hard Spun (USA) – Red Princess (AUS) by Red Ransom (USA)
3 – Visuality (SAF), 60.0, ch f 2, Visionaire (USA) – Personify (SAF) by Personal Hope (USA)
Margins: 0.75, 0.05, 0.10
