A rousing track gallop by top kiwi mare Silent Achiever has her on target for a Spring debut in the Group 1 $350,000 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 31.
Silent Achiever, (yellow, blue cap) winning the Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Silent Achiever galloped with stablemate Bellazeel over 1200m in between races at Matatmata on Monday, running home the final 600m in 37.7s, pleasing Cambridge trainer Roger James.
James will once again travel the Tasman in search of a Group 1 win on Australian soil for his New Zealand Derby winner following two Group 1 placings from three visits.
The successful New Zealand trainer is focusing the O’Reilly mare towards the Group 1 $2.65m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 19, but hasn’t ruled out a tilt at the Group 1 $6.2m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 5.
“If the grand plan comes to fruition, by the middle of November she will have competed in six races for stakes totalling almost $A11 million. We may even get into the Melbourne Cup on 52.5kg, which will be a very competitive weight,” James said.
James first brought Silent Achiever to Australia after winning the 2012 Group 1 NZ$750,000 Telecom New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie and was beaten less than half a length when third behind Laser Hawk and Ocean Park in the Group 1 $500,000 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) at Rosehill.
James then tried his luck in Melbourne in the Spring and picked up a win for Silent Achiever in the Group 2 $220,000 Schweppes Crystal Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley.
Another attempt at Group 1 level in the Autumn this year saw the mare’s best effort from four outings result in a narrow second to Fiveandahalfstar in the Group 1 $2.25m The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill on April 6.
With regular rider James McDonald being required for Sydney’s Autumn Carnival star It’s A Dundeel in the Memsie, James has called on the services of top Melbourne jockey Stephen Arnold.
Silent Achiever has been rated a $34 chance in early Caulfield Cup betting which sees the Gai Waterhouse import Fiorente at the head of the market at $10.
David Hayes’ import Jet Away is next in the betting at $14 with Australian Oaks winner Royal Descent and Australian Cup winner Super Cool sharing the next line of betting at $15.
James is also toying with the idea of bringing Full Of Spirit back to Australia for the Spring, but the mare will have to perform up to James’ expectation in New Zealand before warranting a trip.
The Fying Spur mare won the 2012 Group 3 $125,000 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) at Randwick in the Autumn and was also impressive galloping in between races at Matatmata.
Going on that gallop, Full Of Spirit indicated that she is ready to resume in the Group 1 NZ$200,000 Makfi Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Hawke’s Bay, Hastings on August 31 then will go onto the Group 1 NZ$200,000 Windsor Park Plate (1600m) at the same track on September 21.
