Blueridge Mountain (ARG) has always looked capable of notching up a graded feature and she duly                                                                                                                 did so at her fifth career start, running on strongly to deny favourite All Is Secret (SAF) in the Gr 2 Graham Beck Memorial Sceptre Stakes over 1200m at Kenilworth Saturday. Miss October (SAF) flashed up late to snatch third place from Reflective Image (SAF).

Sunshine Rock was soon in front, racing along the outside, with All Is Secret in close attendance and Blueridge Mountain tracking the fancied pair closely. Lake Drawsko and Sue For Peace were next best as Miss October and Reflective Image raced towards the rear.

Sunshine Rock continued to lead past the 400m mark as All Is Secret was sent out after her. The latter started to pile on the pressure and eventually got on top of Sunshine Rock, but Blueridge Mountain, racing between them, was not going away and she started to pick up her stride. She mastered All Is Secret in the last 100m and pulled away for a convincing victory.

The winner went off at 14/1 but her performance was by no means as big a surprise as those odds suggested. A winner on debut, she had followed up with two close seconds, one of which came in the listed Starling Stakes behind the talented Festival Fire. A subsequent flop in the Cape Fillies Guineas was easy to excuse as she was hopelessly drawn, and she was always likely to turn in a much improved effort here. She looks a really smart prospect and she should certainly go further than this on her pedigree. She handsomely repaid trainer Gary Alexander’s faith in keeping her here following her Guineas effort.

All Is Secret appeared to have every chance but simply could not go with the winner’s turn of foot. The drop in trip seemed to suit her, following her one-paced effort in the Cape Fillies Guineas, and it will be interesting to see if she reverts to a mile in the Majorca Stakes a fortnight from now.

Miss October looked a few lengths shy of the more fancied runners here but she hadn’t been beaten too far in her last two efforts, both in strong company, and this run was in line with the promise she had shown earlier in her career.

Reflective Image remains as consistent as ever. She was expected to take a hand in the finish and ran on well from off the pace.

3 ch f Giant’s CAUS

eway (USA) – Skyline Drive View (USA) by Distant View (USA)
Mrs I Jooste & Mr M J Jooste
Bred by Phalaris Breeding Ltd
Winning trainer: Gary Alexander