Keep The Faith 3yo fillies Be True and Second Step have the potential to handle city assignments after promising provincial victories on Friday.

Be True (3f Keep The Faith – Steely Choice by Choisir) firmed into $4.60 before the Bendigo Bank Telco Hcp (1140m) at Geelong and stable supporters were happy to see her settle on the heels of front-runner Russian Ruby.

“She wasn’t beaten far here last month after being trapped wide,” jockey John Allen recalled. “The good gate helped today and she had a nice run although she was travelling hard. I angled for a gap on the inside and she quickened to sprint away.”

Be True had provided Darren Gauci with his last-ever provincial win earlier this year. The Andrew Campbell-trained filly had been backed from $31 into $14 to land her maiden at Terang in February.

Second Step was even more impressive winning the Thrifty Car & Truck Rental Hcp (1108m) at Bathurst.  She jumped straight to the front and put three lengths on the chasers when Mitchell Bell opened the throttle in the straight.

She started a $1.50 favourite first-up following a Wyong maiden win last November. “I like the sire and I haven’t got to bottom of her yet,” Warwick Farm owner-trainer John Steinmetz said. “Carting her around to the provincials will help long-term but the time’s coming when we will have to keep her in Sydney.”

Second Step (3f Keep The Faith – Crimson Code by Redoute’s Choice) is a half-sister to Moonee Valley winner Barcode (Kaphero) and Singapore winner Be Bold (Equiano). She is from the Group winning “Alberton” family in New Zealand.

Keep The Faith (Sunday Silence) maintains a 67% winning strike-rate – one of the best in Victoria – and he stands for a $4,400 (inc gst) fee at Greta West Stud.

SECOND STEP