Trainer Roger James has confirmed that talented mare Silent Achiever will return to Australia for a 2015 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival campaign if she performs well in a trackwork gallop on Saturday.
Silent Achiever could make the trip to Brisbane for the Hollindale Stakes and the Doomben Cup. Photo by: Steve Hart
Silent Achiever returned to New Zealand after she finished a credible sixth behind Hartnell in the Group 1 The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 28 and she was given a week in the spelling paddock before returning to light trackwork.
James is yet to make any firm plans with Silent Achiever and a trip to Europe for the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m), but he is keen to take the six-year-old to Queensland for the first time and target the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast on April 18 and the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) on May 9.
“I gave her a week in the paddock to just potter around and she’s great,” James said.
“I’ll gallop her on Saturday and provided I’m happy then we’ll send her to Queensland for the Hollindale and the Doomben Cup.”
Silent Achiever was one of the star performers of the 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival after taking out both the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) and The BMW and she performed well without reaching those same heights during her recent autumn preparation.
The O’Reilly mare returned to racing in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on February 14 and she was settled towards the tail of the field before she made up plenty of ground late to finish fifth.
Silent Achiever was settled closer to the speed in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m), but could not match the likes of Contributer in the final stages to finish fifth and she lacked the turn-of-foot of her rivals again in the Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill Gardens on March 21.
The six-year-old stepped-up to 2400 metres for the first time this preparation in The BMW at Rosehill Gardens on March 28, but the extra distance did not help the mare return to winning form and she could only work home fairly to finish sixth.
The 2015 Hollindale Stakes nominations will be released on Monday and the entries for the race are expected to include the likes of 2012 Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon, talented mare Arabian Gold, imported galloper Pornichet, Joe Pride-trained Laser Hawk and veteran stayer Precedence.
