The 2014 Ranvet Stakes match race between Fiorente and It’s A Dundeel did not eventuate; with Silent Achiever upsetting the leading duo to score her maiden Australian Group 1 win at Rosehill Gardens this afternoon.
Silent Achiever upsets favourites to win the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes. Photo by Steve Hart
Carlton House set a quick tempo in the early stages of the race and kicked clear at the 300 metre mark, but was caught on the line by a fast-finishing Silent Achiever, while It’s A Dundeel could finish no better than third and Fiorente tired badly in the final stages of the race.
Trainer Roger James has always believed that Silent Achiever was capable of breaking through for a Group 1 win in Australia and said that he felt the daughter of O’Reilly had been underrated in the lead-up to the Ranvet Stakes following her two strong victories in the Retina Specialists Handicap (1500m) and the Group 1 New Zealand Stakes (2000m) in New Zealand.
“I felt all week that we were a fair better chance than what we were being rated,” James said.
“I said to Nash that she has never been ridden forward, but I wouldn’t make up my mind too early in the race and if they want to pull up and she is travelling let her roll.
“It was a masterful ride as we have come to expect from him.”
“She has had the writing on the wall for some time and Roger was adamant this preparation that the blinkers had helped her improve a couple of lengths.
“That was enough for me because that was all she needed to find to figure in the finish of one of these big ones.
“Hopefully there is a bigger one ahead of her.”
Rawiller admitted that he thought Silent Achiever was going to win comfortably when she charged after Carlton House with 150 metres left to run and paid credit to the brave run of The Her Majesty The Queen Of England-owned galloper in the Ranvet Stakes.
“Carlton House was so well performed overseas and I had that in the back of the mind,” Rawiller said.
“I thought this mare was good enough to win one of these big ones in Australia, although she hadn’t done it before, but I thought she could end up winning a few.
“I thought I was going to win by a half neck at the 150, but he kept fighting back the second horse.
“Full credit to Roger James and Vin Colgan, who has been riding her in New Zealand.”
The victory was Rawiller’s third in the Ranvet Stakes after previously taking out the race with Theseo in both 2009 and 2010.
It’s A Dundeel and Fiorente were rated dominate favourites in 2014 Queen Elizabeth Stakes betting and both are set to drift in betting following their disappointing defeats.
