A luckless Rosehill Guineas defeat made an almost compelling case for Silent Achiever to run in the Australian Derby, the New Zealand filly’s trainer Roger James says.
James confirmed Silent Achiever would be paid up on Tuesday for the $1.5 million blue riband at Randwick on Saturday after a round table conference with the filly’s owners.
“It was a decision my owners and myself made together,” James told AAP.
“We ran in the Rosehill Guineas to give us options and the Derby was one of them.”
Silent Achiever will be trying to follow in the hoofsteps of last year’s winner, the Melbourne-trained filly Shamrocker.
Shamrocker, who like Silent Achiever finished third in the Rosehill Guineas, became the first filly in 22 years to beat the males in the time-honoured classic.
“There’s no doubt she had the toughest run in the (Rosehill) Guineas,” James said.
“If she had been able to save half a length anywhere in the race she would have won by a neck.
“My jockey (Hugh Bowman) said she doesn’t need to improve … she just needs a bit more luck.”
Silent Achiever won the New Zealand Derby last month, confirming her strength over 2400m.
She was beaten a half neck and a long head into the minor placing in the Rosehill Guineas behind the Gai Waterhouse-trained Laser Hawk and fellow New Zealander Ocean Park.
The Guineas placegetters dominate Derby betting ahead of Tuesday’s final field and barrier draw with Laser Hawk ($3.20) holding favouritism.
Ocean Park, a late entry into the race, shares the second line of betting with Silent Achiever at $4.80.
“It’s not going to be easy for her, no Derby ever is, but I’m happy with the decision,” James said.
Darley, meanwhile, said it would be without a runner in the race with Ambidexter, a $9 chance in pre-post betting, and Galah, to be saved for a support race on Saturday.
Waterhouse, chasing her first Australian Derby win, will have two runners with Satirical Boy joining his more strongly fancied stablemate in the field.
Satirical Boy caught the eye despite a midfield placing in the Tulloch Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday and Tommy Berry will take the mount.
“Tommy thought if he had better luck on Saturday he would have been right in the finish,” Tulloch Lodge spokesman Mark Newnham said.
All-conquering jockey Craig Williams has been booked for the Derby mount on the Anthony Cummings-trained Strike The Stars.
Williams takes over from the suspended Blake Shinn on the Australian Guineas placegetter.
“I thought his Rosehill Guineas run was pretty good considering he covered ground. He was still strong across the line,” Cummings said.
Outsider Hoylonny will be trainer Chris Waller’s only Derby runner with Said Com sent to the spelling paddock.
Hoylonny ran on out wide to finish sixth in the Rosehill Guineas and Michael Rodd, who rode the Waller-trained Metal Bender to victory in the Group One George Ryder Stakes on Saturday, retains the mount.
“He did enough in the Guineas to give him his chance to run in a Derby,” Waller said.
