Top New Zealand trainer Roger James has achieved his first Sydney goal with his smart filly Silent Achiever by avoiding a clash with outstanding filly Mosheen.
James nominated Silent Achiever for Saturday’s Group 1 $500,000 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) at Rosehill while Robert Smerdon has elected to start the Randwick Guineas winner next week in the Group 1 $400,000 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill.
The Kiwi trainer is still deciding if his smart filly will go to the Group 1 $1.5m Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on April 14 or wait for the Group 1 $550,000 ATC Oaks (2400m) at Randwick the week later.
”That’s a good starting point for us as it’s either two weeks to the Derby or three weeks to the Oaks,” he said.
James has been pleased with Silent Achiever since her commanding win in the Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on March 3 and believes there is still some improvement in the filly.
”She’s never been a great trackworker but on her work last week she’s gone up a notch as that was her best ever work,” James said.
The O’Reilly filly has an outstanding record in New Zealand with five wins from six starts including her last four straight.
Her first Group win was in the Group 2 Championship Stakes (2100m) at Ellerslie on January 1 followed by a win in the Group 3 Waikato Guineas at Te Rapa on February 4.
She followed that up with a win at Ellerslie in the Group 2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) on February 18 before her dominating win in the Derby.
Leading Sydney jockey Hugh Bowman has picked up the Rosehill Guineas ride on Silent Achiever who will arrive in Australia on Tuesday.
The Guineas has attracted a top class field of three year olds including That’s The One, the Anthony Cummings trained Strike The Stars, Peter’s Moody Highly Recommended, Victoria Derby winner Sangster as well as the promising Darci Be Good.
Darci Be Good had trainer Bede Murray a bit concerned with two ordinary runs this time in but lifted his hopes when the Darci Brahma colt showed a marked improvement last start when two lengths sixth to Mosheen in the Group 1 $500,000 Turnpoint Royal Randwick Guineas (1600m) on March 17.
“His first two runs were questionable to some people but they never worried me,” Murray said.
“He produced what I expected him to in the Randwick Guineas and I think he’ll go on from there.”
“From the 16 alley (in the Randwick Guineas) we had no alternative than to go back and I thought he did very well at the business end of the race.”
Peter Robl will again partner Darci Be Good after being aboard him at his three runs this campaign.
Murray didn’t chase any Melbourne Spring races after Darci Be Good was a close second to Doctor Doom in the Group 1 $400,000 Inglis Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) in October and instead elected to give the three year old a good break heading into the Autumn.
Murray said that Darci Be Good is now on track for the Australian Derby at Randwick on April 14 after showing signs of his old form in the Randwick Guineas.
“He’s going great,” trainer Bede Murray said.
“I’ve been building him towards the Derby. I haven’t expected much until this Saturday in the Rosehill Guineas.”
