Strong Field For Chipping Norton
- Monday, 23 February 2015 07:11
At the second start of her autumn campaign last year, Silent Achiever began a three-race Group One winning streak.
Trainer Roger James is cautious about her chances second-up in Saturday's Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Warwick Farm, believing she will be at her best over longer.
"She has has come through the Apollo Stakes as well as I expected her to," James said.
"But I don't expect to see her at her best until she gets to 2000 metres in the Ranvet.
"That is the race which will determine the rest of her campaign."
Silent Achiever won last year's Ranvet Stakes which was the middle leg of her Group One treble between the New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie and the BMW (2400m).
James has also flagged a possible trip to Europe later in the year for Silent Achiever whose best spring performance was her third in the Cox Plate won by Adelaide.
Silent Achiever is the highest rated horse of the 16 entries taken on Monday for the Chipping Norton, nine of which are from the Chris Waller stable with the trainer bidding to win the race for the fifth consecutive year.
Waller said Beaten Up was likely to head to Melbourne for Saturday's Group Two Peter Young Stakes as a lead-up to the Australian Cup two weeks later.
"I'm not sure if they will all run. Who Shot Thebarman will definitely be there," he said.
"He trialled really well and I'm looking forward to his return."
Who Shot Thebarman has not raced since his third behind Protectionist and Red Cadeaux in last year's Melbourne Cup.
Godolphin will have two runners in Sydney's first Group One race of the year with Apollo Stakes winner Contributer to be ridden by James McDonald.
James Doyle, Godolphin's retained rider, will fly in from Dubai to partner stable newcomer Hartnell, a Group Three winner in England who is having his first Australian start.
