Top jockey James McDonald is confident Silent Achiever will handle the footing in Saturday’s New Zealand Derby (2400m) if she gets to the post.
Driving rain is predicted for Auckland at the weekend, potentially turning the $NZ750,000 ($A587,406) Group One contest at Ellerslie into a difficult race to predict.
Silent Achiever earned $2.80 favouritism with consecutive Group victories in the Championship Stakes, Waikato Guineas and the Avondale Guineas.
In the latter two she showed an outstanding turn of foot on good ground but she got through a slow track well enough in the Championship Stakes to suggest she won’t be too inconvenienced if it is wet on Saturday.
“She’ll handle an off track a little bit but if it gets too heavy I don’t think she’ll start,” McDonald said.
“If Roger James lines her up she’ll be fine to start, she’ll handle it.”
James said Silent Achiever would cope with a slow track but she would not be at her best.
“I’m hoping it’s a good track. The best horse usually wins on good footing. Class comes through,” James said.
McDonald also rode the Kevin Myers-trained Angelology to win the St Leger Trial at Otaki and rated the $18 shot one of his toughest opponents.
“I really rate him as a high chance and if I wasn’t on Silent Achiever I’d love to be riding him,” McDonald said.
Ocean Park was favourite for the race until Silent Achiever beat him at Te Rapa and his trainer Gary Hennessy was hopeful he could turn the tables, provided the track was good.
“It was his first race over ground and they went along at a pretty good clip and he overraced when they got into the back straight,” Hennessy said.
“We’ve got him in a place where we want him but we’re really worried about the weather and should the track be slow he won’t start.”