Silent assassin on hunt

3rd Feb 2012

Roger James tried to buy Ocean Park (NZ) (Thorn Park); now he's trying to beat him.

Roger James

The Cambridge trainer was among the underbidders on the exciting Thorn Park colt out of Sayyida (NZ) (Zabeel), a filly James trained up to her breaking down in the Group Two Avondale Guineas, a race in which she started favourite.

Ocean Park (NZ) sold for NZ$150,000 at the Karaka yearling sales in 2010 to Matamata trainer Gary Hennessy, who has guided colt to three wins from four starts, including a breath-taking 4 1/2-length win in last month's Group Three Wellington Stakes (1600m) at Trentham to became the NZ$3 favourite for next month's Group One New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie.

James, who went to NZ$290,000 to buy Ocean Park's half-sister by Iffraaj at Karaka last year, has followed the colt's progress closely and has been impressed by what he has seen.

But that hasn't stopped him from preparing to front up against Ocean Park (NZ) in Saturday's Group Three HS Dyke Waikato Guineas (2000m) at Te Rapa with his own exciting filly, Silent Achiever (NZ) (O’Reilly).

"It's hard to know how she'll measure up against him because we've never raced him, but we're going to find out,'' James said.

"I've watched him right through. I tried to buy him but I didn't have enough money. I'd bought all my main orders and I left myself short on him. 

"He looks an excitement machine. Right from the word go he has looked the goods. He's got his mum's ability.

"But put it this way, [Silent Achiever] wouldn't be there if I didn't think she was going to be competitive.''

The Kevin Hickman-bred and owned Silent Achiever (NZ) has won two of her four starts, progressing from her Group Two Eight Carat Classic third placing over 1600m at Ellerslie on Boxing Day to her brilliant Group Two Championship Stakes win at the same track over 2100m six days later, beating Waikato Guineas rival Shuka (NZ) (Bahelor Duke) by three-quarters of a length.

"She's had 35 days between races but she's done really well,'' James said.

"I'm going this way to keep options open for a possible Derby preparation. She's done nothing wrong and she deserves the opportunity.

"All her runs have been good. She's run the quickest sectionals in every race she's had. She'll be ready.''

James McDonald takes the ride on Silent Achiever (NZ) on Saturday, replacing the injured Vinnie Colgan.

A field of nine was yesterday accepted for the Waikato Guineas, with Mustang (NZ) (One Cool Cat) drawing barrier one, Ocean Park (NZ) barrier two, Silent Achiever (NZ) six and Shuka (NZ) gate seven.

Meanwhile, Hamilton breeder-owner Gordon Cunningham has sold last-start Group Two Royal Stakes, Chicharita (NZ) (Towkay) winner to Australia's Segenhoe Stud.

The Towkay filly will remain in the care of Matamata trainers Michael Moroney and Andrew Clarken but is likely to relocate to the Melbourne arm of the stable later this year.

Cunningham, who praised the stable for the job of developing the filly, said the offer was too good to refuse.

"Being a trader, I received a significant offer and I decided to sell. I would love to have kept her, I really would have, but business comes first,'' he said.

Aidan Rodley – Waikato Times