Silvera has chance to break summer drought
Silvera (grey) gets his chance for a late summer win at Eagle Farm where he drops in class.
Stakes-winner Silvera will bypass an early trip to the Sydney autumn carnival to chase another Brisbane black-type race after he runs at Eagle Farm.
Silvera has had a summer carnival complicated by injury and bad luck but gets a chance to win his first race since July in the Canadian Club Open Handicap (1600m).
The grey gelding’s three runs this campaign have been in stakes company and while he has not run a place, he has finished one length, 3-1/2 lengths, and 1-1/4 lengths from the winners.
Silvera won the Rockhampton Cup and Tatt’s Mile last winter and was spelled with the summer carnival in mind.
The gelding was sidelined by an eye injury caused by a flying clod in his first-up run in the Recognition Stakes at Eagle Farm on November 24.
“It meant we had to scrap a trip to a Sydney and then some of the local races,” trainer Tony Gollan said.
“But since he has been back he has raced well and he continues to please me.
“There isn’t much doubt he should have finished in the minor placings at least at his last start in the Sunshine Coast Cup.
“He just couldn’t get a crack at them at a vital stage.”
Gollan said Silvera faced a big drop in class on Saturday and seemed to get the run of the race.
“With Cool Chap accepting it forces the weights down for the others and it means Silvera gets in with 56.5 kilos after Baylee (Nothdurft) claiming 1.5,” Gollan said.
“A few of the others have to give him a bit of weight now.”
Gollan said there was the option to head to Sydney next month but Silvera would first remain in Brisbane for the Listed Tattersall’s Members Cup on February 29.
“It looks the perfect stakes race for him at 1600 metres,” he said.
The wet surface is not expected to bother Silvera.
“Wet or dry really doesn’t worry Silvera,” Gollan said.
Silvera will go past $500,000 prize money with a win on Saturday.
Rival trainer Natalie McCall has also decided to claim on Spectroscope who has been ridden by senior riders in six races since joining her Caloundra stable.
Stephanie Thornton will claim 1.5kg on Spectroscope reducing his weight to 57.5kg.
“Spectroscope has a big heart but he isn’t very big. Every kilo less helps,” McCall said.
It will be the first time the former French horse will be ridden by a claiming apprentice in his 25 Australian starts.