Trainer Roger James has confirmed that talented mare Silent Achiever will contest the 2014 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick this weekend.
Silent Achiever is chasing her fourth straight win at Group 1 level after taking out the New Zealand Stakes, Ranvet Stakes and The BMW this preparation. Photo by: Steve Hart
Silent Achiever was included in the nominations for both the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) and James said after the mare’s impressive win in the Group 1 The BMW (2400m) that he would wait before making a decision on which event to target with the daughter of O’Reilly.
James has been desperate to give Silent Achiever an opportunity over 3200 metres, with the five-year-old ruled out of the 2013 Melbourne Cup due to injury, but decided that 3200 metres on a heavy Royal Randwick track would be too tough an ask for his star galloper.
“The 3200 metres on a wet track could be too taxing,” James told AAP.
“The Queen Elizabeth is going to be a very hard race.
“She tried to win it last year coming back from the 2400 metres of the BMW and didn’t.
“There will be some new horses like the ones coming out of the Doncaster for the Queen Elizabeth which makes it even harder.”
Silent Achiever started her autumn preparation with a narrow win over Fix in the Retina Specialists Handicap (1500m) at Ellerslie on February 15 and recorded her second win at Group 1 level with an impressive performance in the New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at the same venue on March 8.
The O’Reilly mare upstaged Fiorente and It’s A Dundeel to score a narrow victory in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 22 and made it four wins in a row with a strong staying performance in The BMW at Rosehill Gardens on April 5.
Nash Rawiller has partnered Silent Achiever in both of her Australian Group 1 wins this preparation and will stick with the tough mare in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes this weekend, despite being offered the ride on Doncaster Mile runner-up Royal Descent.
Gai Waterhouse-trained Carlton House ($3.40) is currently on top of 2014 Queen Elizabeth Stakes betting markets; with Silent Achiever ($4.40) on the second line of betting from fellow New Zealander It’s A Dundeel ($6), Royal Descent ($9), triple Group 1 winner Boban ($10), the consistent Hawkspur ($12) and Doncaster Mile winner Sacred Falls ($13).
