Kiwi mare Silent Achiever will go into the 2013 Melbourne Cup field without another lead-up run; with trainer Roger James electing not to run the five-year-old in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Silent Achiever will not have another run before the 2013 Group 1 Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Saturday. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Silent Achiever was originally included in the nominations for the Mackinnon Stakes that were released on Monday but James told Racing Ahead this morning that the Group 1 winner would go straight into the Melbourne Cup.
“I’ve decided against it and I will go straight into the Cup,” James said of the Mackinnon Stakes.
The daughter of O’Reilly was well backed in the lead-up to the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and got a lovely run in transit but could only battle home to finish eighth after having every possible chance in the final stages of the race.
She received stiches on both of her hind legs after the race but James said that she had recovered from the race extremely well and is ready for her step-up to two miles with just 52 kilos on her back in the 2013 Melbourne Cup.
“She has come through really well considering that we stitched both hind legs on the night of the (Caulfield) Cup,” James said.
“She hasn’t had a lame day with them and she had her first piece of work yesterday and worked nicely.
“The one just below the hop was quiet nasty but they have done a good job and she hasn’t had a bad day since; we have been quiet lucky really.”
Silent Achiever had her first piece of serious trackwork, since the Caulfield Cup, at Flemington yesterday morning and was arguably the most impressive worker over the day.
She worked alongside stablemate Zonza, who will go to the Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m) on Saturday after winning the Group 3 Snowhite Maintenance Classic (1600m) at Caulfield on Thousand Guineas Day, and easily defeated the Zabeel mare; running the final 400 metres in a very impressive 22.82 seconds.
Dwayne Dunn rode Silent Achiever yesterday and will take the ride on the 2012 New Zealand Derby winner in the 2013 Melbourne Cup; with James not expecting the veteran jockey to have any problems getting down to 52 kilos next Tuesday.
“He said that he will make it no problem,” James said.
Dunn will be riding in the Melbourne Cup for the ninth time in his racing career and will be looking to turn around his poor form in the race after missing the placings with Niwot (2012), Drunken Sailor (2011), Gallions Reach (2009), Tawqeet (2006 and 2007), Kindjhal (2005) and Skybeau (1997 and 2000).
