Trainer Roger James believes that talented mare Silent Achiever has had the perfect preparation for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) that will be run at Caulfield on Saturday.
Silent Achiever is chasing her first race win since her victory in the 2012 Crystal Mile. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Silent Achiever has failed to record a win this preparation but has improved with each start; finishing 11th in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m), sixth in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) and an unlucky sixth in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington just over a week ago.
The Caulfield Cup has always been one of the major 2013 Spring Racing Carnival goals for Silent Achiever and James could not be happier with the daughter of O’Reilly heading into $2.5 million event this weekend.
“I think she has had, in my mind, the perfect preparation for her,” James told AAP.
“She’s better placed at a mile and a half and in handicap company.
“This was one of the two main aims for her (including the Group 1 Melbourne Cup).”
Silent Achiever performed strongly during the 2013 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival, finishing just outside the placings in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) and Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) before finishing second behind Fiveandahalfstar in the Group 1 The BMW (2400m), but James believes the five-year-old is in even better form this preparation.
“If you watched her lead-up runs in Sydney in the autumn, her run in the Ranvet Stakes prior to being beaten a head in The BMW was no better run than the other day in the Turnbull and probably in lesser company I would say as well,” James said.
“Then she came out at weight-for-age over a mile and a half, came from last and was beaten a head.
“So I’m very happy where she’s at.”
Silent Achiever has been well backed in 2013 Caulfield Cup betting markets in the last week and is now available at odds of $9 behind only Chris Waller-trained Hawkspur ($4.40), European-trained Dandino ($7) and Australian Oaks winner Royal Descent ($8).
James will become the first New Zealand trainer to win the Caulfield Cup since Sheila Laxon won with Ethereal in 2001.
