Chris Waller’s French import Silverball has come in for some solid support with his odds shortening up considerably for the Group 1 $1m The Star 150th Epsom (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Silverball has come in for some solid support in the betting for the Epsom at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Silverball is one of three runners Waller will saddle up in the Epsom as he tries to make it three wins in succession in Sydney’s Spring Carnival feature over the Randwick Mile after winning with Boban in 2013 and with He’s Your Man last year.
With Silverball firming in from $11 to $8.50, Waller now has the first three in the market order at Ladbrokes.com.au with Winx heading the betting at $2.90 ahead of Sadler’s Lake at $7.50.
Silverball began his career in France and arrived at Waller’s Rosehill stables via Dubai and Hong Kong and was quick to get into the winner’s stall at his second race start on Australian soil in a mid-week Warwick Farm 1600m BenchMark 80 Handicap in March this year.
Waller then shipped Silverball to Melbourne where he won a 1600m Handicap at Flemington in early April.
The seven year old grey was back in the winner’s stall at his third run this campaign when he beat Maurus in the Group 3 $125,000 Thoroughbred Central Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on September 12.
Waller is following the same path as last year’s winner He’s Your Man who won the Kingston Town Stakes before he dropped back in distance to win the Epsom.
Silverball was originally being prepared for the 2400m Group 1 $750,000 McGrath Estate Agents Metropolitan also at Randwick this Saturday, but admits that he ran out of time to get him fit enough to run the mile and a half.
“He is not as sharp as He’s Your Man and I just struggled to get him rock hard fit for 2400m,” Waller said.
“As soon as he ran last start he pulled up having a good blow, I thought this was the easier option and we can get that extra run into him and then step him up in distance when he gets to Melbourne.”
“He will go well, drawn well.”
Brenton Avdulla was aboard Silverball in his Kingston Town Stakes win and gets the ride again this week and is certain to give the grey a cosy run from barrier five.
The Star Epsom market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.90 Winx, $7.50 Sadler’s Lake, $8.50 Lucia Valentina, Silverball, $10 Entirely Platinum, $11 Rudy, $16 Kirromosa, $17 Sweynese, Sons Of John, $21 Messene, $26 Ecuador, Hooked, $61 Malice, $71 Pressing, $81 Teronado.
