For so long, Silent Achiever has lived by her title. Now she is beginning to show class.
Last spring a distraught Roger James announced just days after an eye catching eighth in the Caulfield Cup that his prized mare Silent Achiever would be unable to participate in the 2013 running of the Melbourne Cup due to injury.
Come the 2014 BMW, I am beginning to understand his frustration. She has been simply stunning this autumn.
She finished narrowly ahead of quality New Zealand group performers such as Fix in a three-way photo over an unfavourable 1400, before cruising home in the Group 1 New Zealand stakes.
A narrow upset win followed in her first Australian start this campaign. Carlton House, who was given arguably the ride of the autumn so far, was found wanting at the line, falling just shy of a flying “little Silent Achiever”.
This represented her first Group 1 win on Australian soil. However in my mind the real breakthrough has come just this week, going one better than in 2013 to take out then BMW, in a far superior field.
Four wins on the trot, three Group 1s and two in Australia over world class opposition such as Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente, triple-crown champion It’s a Dundeel, as well as honourable mentions like Carlton House, Foreteller and Hawkspur.
It is an impressive run of form no matter which way you look at it.
Trainer Roger James is believes that it is best to wait the week for the dust to settle before deciding on which race to tackle, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes or the Sydney Cup. Both are run on the second day of the Sydney championships, 19th of April, however being in career best form, and with the QES offering far superior prize money, the connections of Silent Achiever would be mad to pass up the feature race of the autumn.
That is the opinion voiced by Silent Achiever’s jockey Nash Rawiller, although put far more diplomatically than I did.
With Fiorente likely to go to the Sydney Cup, it may well be Silent Achiever again looking to prove herself over It’s a Dundeel, who will surely be headed to the Queen Elizabeth after a much improved performance in running second in the BMW.
It wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest find the kiwi mare in the unaccustomed position of favouritism, as the Australian public warm to her come the business end of the carnival.
As a prelude to the Ranvet, The Roar’s own Justin Cinque dubbed the contest “the race to determine the best”. Well in my opinion Silent Achiever is just a win away from proving him right, even if it is in a way no one expected.
Megs
Guest
I think Rising Romance is the pick of the two. Her racing style means she won't have the same luck every time she starts as Puccini might, but I think she's the more promising type.
Bradman
Roar Rookie
Definitely! cant wait!
Bradman
Roar Rookie
Agreed, 2 lengths is a big margin over some of those horses. Shes lacking a big victory in the spring, and that will hurt her horse of the year chances. But she'll put her name into consideration if she can take the QES. Surely she has to go race that over the Sydney cup?
Bradman
Roar Rookie
I can't say I was a big follower of racing during her derby days, however some of my family loved telling me how good she was. A while back I went through and watched her lead up races to the derby, then obviously the derby itself. she beat some pretty good horses in the lead up and then pretty comfortably won the main event like you said. Pucchini vs Rising romance this year kinda reminded me of Silent Achiever vs Shuka, excpet this year the front runner won! The n.z derby is probably one of the best races we have over here, and always seems to produce quality winners. Absolutely loving watching her take it to the big boys of aussie racing!
Haradasun
Guest
Great win by the mare she is a top quality horse. I hope she goes to the qe it will be a great race if she does.
Megs
Guest
New Zealand racing fans have known the true quality of Silent Achiever since her 3yo days and have definitely understood Roger James's frustration. I don't think too many on this side of the Tasman have been terribly surprised at her performances this prep, besides maybe her fresh-up win over 1400m which is well short of her best distance range. I know I haven't been surprised to see her win. I know there was some surprise at her second placing in last year's BMW, but those over here who have followed her for the last couple of years knew that that was indicative of her genuine quality. Whilst Dundeel's form in Aussie as a 3yo, and his win over Atlantic Jewel in the Underwood, have obviously put the spotlight on him as the best NZ horse around as far as the Australian media is concerned especially, Silent Achiever has had bad luck with race tactics and injury. She was a dominant winner of the NZ Derby in her year, despite being quite green, and she copped the distance comfortably on a slow 7. She is a very consistent mare who has seldom run a bad race; she just hasn't had a big win over the ditch until now to demonstrate how good she is.
Brad
Guest
....and BOBAN has three Group One wins this season, as well. All over a mile, though. The QE is shaping up as a ripper!
Tim
Guest
Depends on what buffering does in QLD I think. He already has 3, and if jags the TJ and then one of the QLD ones he is a shoe in.
Jack
Guest
I really liked the way she just put paid to them in a few strides, and was still going away on the line. Very classy and determined horse. If she wins the Queen Elizabeth does she get Horse of the Year?