Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott have Group One ambitions for rising three-year-old Silent Impact, who signalled his spring carnival intentions with a resounding Rosehill victory.
By first season sire Maurice out of 2004 VRC Oaks winner Hollow Bullet, Silent Impact ($7) scored on debut at Goulburn before comfortably handling the class rise to metropolitan grade in Saturday’s Elite Sand & Soil Handicap (1200m).
He scored by 1-3/4 lengths over stablemate Concocted ($18) with Godolphin’s Vianello ($13) third.
Bott expects the winner to be much better suited when he gets to a middle-distance and says his two victories over shorter trips have been achieved on raw ability.
“I think he’s got a lot of scope to get over much further, I think he’s a really classy horse,” Bott said.
Bott confirmed the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick in October as a likely goal for Silent Impact.
“When we kicked off the campaign, that’s the sort of race we had in mind for him,” he said
“His pedigree suggested he’d get over a lot further and just looking at him, he is a lovely athletic type of horse. I think he’s really going to excel once we can get over a bit of ground.
“It was quite important today to see him settle there behind the speed. He was nice and tractable and I guess the exciting part is he showed a great turn of foot when needed.”
Tim Clark positioned Silent Impact behind the leader before easing him off heels and the youngster quickened stride nicely to put the race beyond doubt.
Clark feels he will be better again in the autumn but has no doubt Silent Impact is a horse to watch.
“He just keeps taking the steps required,” Clark said.
“He’s always been a horse that gives you a really good feel when you ride him and he’s been able to go to the races and really get it right on both occasions.”
