Top Cape-based trainer Vaughan Marshall admitted, after adding two more Gr 1’s to his glittering CV at Scottsville on Saturday, the Captain Als were always the first horses he viewed at the sales and he always viewed every one of them.
Marshall trained the great Klawervlei-based champion stallion and both of his yard’s big race winners on Saturday, The Secret Is Out and Always In Charge, are by Captain Al.
MJ Byleveld rode a race out of the top drawer in the Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship, remaining calm when short of room at the 500m mark, easing The Secret Is Out back slightly and then bursting through to win cosily.
Owner and breeder Garth Miller’s intuition when buying The Secret Is Out’s dam Secret Of Victoria a few years ago due to the speed in the pedigree has led to his BBP syndicate, consisting of himself and Basil Nelson, being in possession of one of the best families in the South African stud book.
Secret Of Victoria herself finished second in the Allan Robertson for Marshall. The Secret Is Out has now become her second daughter to win the prestigious two-year-old event.
Miller owned a half-share in The Secret Is Out’s full-sister All Is Secret, who won the Allan Robertson for Marshall in 2012.
The Secret Is Out did not go to the sales and on Saturday became Marshall’s fourth winner of the big race. Nelson was there to accept the trophy and Miller was sure to have been tuned in from his holiday venue.
The small filly has a “wonderful temperament”, “a big action and a big heart”. Furthermore, Marshall said, “We have not got to the bottom of her yet.”
Later, The Klawervlei Stud-bred and Markus and Ingrid Jooste-owned Always In Charge gave Marshall his second career win of the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion.
Jockey Anton Marcus said it had not taken him long to agree with stable jockey Byleveld’s assessment of this being a “special horse” after he had begun working him ten days before the race at Summerveld.
Marshall purchased him for R650,000 at the CTS Emperor’s Palace Select Yearling Sale and Jooste had later taken ownership.
Marshall, recalling the sale, said, “He wasn’t a big horse, he was very athletic and had a lot of quality about him.”
He won in fine style on Saturday, beating the field by three lengths in a time 0,37 seconds quicker than the fillies race.
A lot more will be heard of him and Marshall believes he will be even better when he goes around the turn.
David Thiselton
Picture: Always In Charge (Nkosi Hlophe)
