Silent Achiever is set to return to racing in the 2014 Memsie Stakes and the talented mare impressed trainer Roger James with a strong piece of trackwork heading into the Group 1 event at Caulfield on Saturday.
Silent Achiever will be chasing her fifth win at Group 1 level in the 2014 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart
Silent Achiever worked over 1200 metres on the course proper at Cambridge in New Zealand this morning and James told Racing Ahead that he has no doubt the work of the O’Reilly mare was the best of her preparation to date.
“I am happy with the order that she is in,” James said.
“The trial undoubtedly brought her forward and she worked this morning on our course proper and it was without doubt the best work of her preparation.
“I thought her work had that sparkle to it this morning, which probably until now her work has been solid without that.
“The trial last week did the job for us and not only did she work well this morning, but she pulled up terrific.
“It is a lovely way to be coming on the plane really.”
Silent Achiever beat home just two runners when she started her 2013 Spring Racing Carnival campaign in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday, but she was blocked for a run in the straight and was never given a crack at the leaders.
James said that Silent Achiever’s run in the Memsie Stakes last year was far stronger than it looked on paper and he believes that the six-year-old is in similar condition heading into the 2014 edition of the race.
“After this morning’s workout I would think that she is in very similar order,” James said.
“I was happy with her coming into the race last year and she was checked off the heels of runners in the last furlong of the race; she looked really as though she should have grabbed a placing in the race had she had a clear chance.”
James revealed last month that the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 4 would be the major spring target for Silent Achiever, but he is yet to decide whether she will run in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) or Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) heading into ‘the race that stops a nation’.
Silent Achiever finished a credible eight in the Caulfield Cup last year and James believes that the $3.5 million event is the race best suited for his star mare, but is worried about the weight that may be allocated to the four-time Group 1 winner.
“The main aim is the Melbourne Cup and we have set our sights on peaking on the day,” James said,
“It is just a matter of which way we go to get there in the best order.
“The Caulfield Cup is going to be a tempting one because I do think at this stage of her career that the mile and a half has looked like her best trip.
“She has won a BMW and she has won a Derby all at the distance.
“If she gets a little bit of weight I might go Cox Plate way and not risk a re-handicap for the Melbourne Cup.
“A lot is going to determine on how she is racing and the weights she gets allotted.”
Silent Achiever is currently available at 2014 Melbourne Cup odds of $34, while she is on top of the 2014 Cox Plate betting market with Ladbrokes Australia at a quote of $11.
