Silent Achiever on target for Sydney Autumn Carnival

Cambridge trainer Roger James has his top mare Silent Achiever on target for a successful Sydney Autumn Carnival campaign after scoring her second Group 1 win in the NZ$200,000 Lindauer New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie last Saturday.

Silent Achiever, yellow, blue cap, is on target for the Sydney Autumn Carnival.

Silent Achiever, yellow, blue cap, is on target for the Sydney Autumn Carnival. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

Silent Achiever has been placed twice from ten Group 1 outings since winning the 2012 Group 1 NZ$750,000 Telecom New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie and James was glad that she could return to winning form before heading to Sydney again.

“It was a nice effort and she probably had to do that to take on the programme I’ve outlined for her,” James told the NZ Racing Desk.

“It will be a step up for her, but her fitness is improving all the time as well.”

Silent Achiever was having her second run with the blinkers on and she produced the result James had been looking for, although he had been reluctant to put the head gear on the O’Reilly mare.

“I thought about putting blinkers on her all through her campaign in Melbourne and it was a tricky time to do it, but I do believe that helped her today,” James said.

“I think if blinkers can find a length or two, it might make us a bit more competitive in the autumn.”

James has outlined a three race program when he gets to Sydney with Silent Achiever’s first Autumn Carnival appearance to be in the Group 1 $500,000 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 22.

“She got the job done nicely and she’ll race in two weeks’ time in the Ranvet, two weeks after that in The BMW and then another two weeks on to the Sydney Cup,” James said.

Silent Achiever will then saddle up in the Group 1 $1.5m The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill on April 5 and James is hoping she can go one better than last year after finishing second to the Anthony Cummings trained Fiveandahalfstar.

And her grand final will be the Group 1 $1m Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick on April 19, the second day of the two day ‘The Championships’.

Ladbrokes.com.au have Silent Achiever on the fourth line of Sydney Cup betting with the Gai Waterhouse import Tres Blue at $12.

The Chris Waller trained Opinion heads the market order at $8.50 just ahead of Melbourne stayer Sertorius and Irish Import The Offer at $9 and Auckland Cup winner Who Shot Thebarman at $11.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.