Racing: James backs Silent Achiever's form

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Don't ask Roger James if he thinks Silent Achiever's form is below the standard of last autumn when she won the Ranvet and the BMW.

Given a recent 5446 formline that might, on paper, seem a reasonable suggestion.

"Absolutely not," said James from the Gold Coast where he is preparing Silent Achiever for today's A$358,000 Hollindale Cup.

"Her form is exactly the same as last year, the difference being that she struck rain-affected tracks last autumn and this time they were running records." James also believes the opposition in Sydney was this time much stronger.

"Those two horses she met in the BMW last start (Hartnell and To The World) are absolutely world class. The Japanese horse was declared as unbeatable and although he was beaten he went well and we were 1.1 lengths from him.

"The opposition was a lot better this time."

That said, James feels Silent Achiever is slightly vulnerable at today's 1800m distance.

"She's coming back from 2400m and I've tried to leave some freshness in her to counteract that, but it might leave her just a fraction short of full fitness. Her main aim is the Doomben Cup."

Today's race might be a step back in class from the likes of Hartnell and To The World, but James does not see it as an easy kill.

"Everyone is saying it's the strongest Hollindale they can remember.

"They've never previously had ballots in the race and it's interesting that the French horse that finished fifth in the Doncaster (Pornichet) is on the emergency list." Kerrin McEvoy, who rode Silent Achiever in Sydney, retains the mount.

The Gold Coast track saw rain earlier in the week, but improved weather has dried it out and a dead track is expected. "That would be perfect," says James.

Leith Innes has travelled to Queensland to ride Cambridge-trained Huka Eagle in the A$125,000 1200m Gold Coast Guineas this afternoon.

Huka Eagle galloped strongly with El Roca between races at Ellerslie last Saturday and is clearly a very fit horse for this assignment.

Innes has picked up the Hollindale ride on the Chris Waller-trained Moriarty.