Trainer Chris Waller has revealed that Silverball could run in the 2015 Epsom Handicap at Royal Randwick next Saturday rather than the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m).
Silverball could make his Australian Group 1 debut in the 2015 Epsom Handicap. Photo by: Steve Hart
Waller indicated that Silverball would likely step-up to 2400 meters for the first time in his Australian racing career after he scored a comfortable victory in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on September 12, but the leading trainer is now considering replicating what he did with He’s Your Man last year and could drop Silverball back to a mile for the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m).
“I am going to make a final decision on Monday or Tuesday of this week,” Waller told AAP.
“I want to have good look at him and see if he is fit enough to run 2400 metres.
“He’s probably not as sharp as He’s Your Man but I think it (Epsom) could be the better option.”
Silverball made his racing debut in Europe in 2011 and he was purchased by Hong Kong-based connections and transferred to the care of trainer David Cruz after he finished second in the Group 2 UAE Derby (1900m) at Meydan on March 31.
The Kahyasi gelding recorded one win in Hong Kong, but he was never really able to settle in the racing jurisdiction and he was transferred to the Waller stable after he bled during trackwork in September last year.
Silverball made his Australian racing debut with a second place finish behind Himalaya Dream at Rosehill Gardens on March 14 and he went on to take out the Liverpool City Council Handicap (1600m) at Warwick Farm on March 25 and the Ross Stevenson Trophy (1600m) at Flemington on April 11 before he stamped himself as a legitimate 2015 Spring Racing Carnival contender with his win in the Listed Lord Mayor’s Cup (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on May 9.
The imported gelding was as big as a Biggest Loser contestant when he returned to racing in the Canterbury Hurlstone RSL Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 15 and he stripped fitter when he finished second in the Listed Premier’s Cup (1800m) at the same venue on August 29 before he returned to winning form in the Kingston Town Stakes.
Silverball is currently available at 2015 Epsom Handicap odds of $15 with Ladbrokes and he is on the fifth line of betting behind Theo Marks Stakes winner Winx ($4), Gai Waterhouse-trained Pornichet ($9), the consistent Royal Descent ($9) and talented mare Catkins ($13).
