Trainer Vaughan Marshall looked the man to beat in the Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship over 1200m at Scottsville on Saturday and so it proved as his charges filled the first and third positions in this prestigious event for juvenile fillies. It was the lesser-fancied All Is Secret (SAF) who ran out a convincing winner from Franny (SAF) with favouriteValdivia (SAF) just holding third from Counter Ridge (SAF).

Franny jumped well on this occasion, going into an immediate lead wit All Is Seret keeping close tabs on her. Validivia tracked the leading pair, taking up a position along the inside rail with Sea Shadow and Counter Ridge next best.

All Is Secret moved up to Franny about 300m out as Valdivia came under a ride to get on terms with the front pair. Counter Ridge also started a forward move, with nothing else looking likely to get into it.

Franny continued to give her all but All Is Secret gradually asserted herself and pulled clear to win by just over a length. Franny comfortably kept Valdivia at bay and the 13/10 favourite had to be hard ridden to ensure that Place Accumulator punters who had bankered her survived into the next leg.

It's certainly no secret that the winner is highly thought of and the pre-race rumours that she had outperformed Valdivia during their training gallops proved to be well-founded. She looks well set to follow in the footsteps of her accomplished dam, Secret Of Victoria. She's now won two of her three starts and her sole defeat, a close one at the hooves of Straight Set, is not looking a bad effort by any means after the latter filly took on the colts later in the day and ran a blinder to finish second the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Medallion.

Franny put her SA Fillies Nursery effort behind her with a fine performance from the front. She effectively ran the rest of the field off their feet and it was just a case of coming against a really smart-looking rival on the day. She will win her share of races.

Valdivia was slightly disappointing, given the way she had despatched her opposition in three previous victories. She did have to switch outwards late but the race was practically over by then and, overall, she never looked to be travelling as well as she had done in her previous races. She got beaten by two good ones, though, and she is another filly who is set to add to her winning tally before too long.

Counter Ridge belied her odds of 40/1 with a sterling effort in defeat. She moved up well when asked the question and fought hard all the way to the line. Given the quality of the trio that beat her, her connections have every reason to be pleased with this run and are entitled to expect good things from her going forward.
 

2 gr f Captain Al - Secret Of Victoria by Goldkeeper (USA)
Messrs M J Jooste & G M Mille
Bred by BBP Syndicate (Nom: Mr G M Miller)

Winning trainer: Vaughan Marshall