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Secret Allure has continued her family’s affinity with Riccarton.
The Lisa Latta-trained filly has made a bright start to her career, which was crowned on Saturday with success in the Listed Berkley Stud Champagne Stakes (1200m).
The two-year-old is a daughter of Zacinto and the O’Reilly mare Secret Scent, whose sister Ombre Rose was a multiple stakes winner on the South Island’s premier track.
Second on debut, Secret Allure won at Te Rapa in February before she ran fourth at Trentham prior to her southern venture.
“She was getting home nicely that day, but I just think the track was a touch too firm for her,” Latta said.
“When we decided not to run in the Sires' Produce, we thought we'd sit and wait for a softer black-type race. She's an immature filly and has just needed time.”
Ridden by Rosie Myers, Secret Allure settled behind the leading pack quickly asserted her superiority in the closing 250m.
“Once we got the split she gave a good turn of foot,” she said. “She probably got there a bit too easily and wanted to pull up.
“She’s a grouse filly. She jumped well and put herself there, she’s pretty tractable and I’m looking forward to the spring.”
The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained Peaceful finished runner-up after being in or near the lead all the way and the northern pair had the finish to themselves with a margin back to the third placegetter Pick Me Up In Rio.