Racing: Kiwi trainer saddles three likely chances

Silent Achiever (front) will be all the rage in the Matriarch Stakes at Flemington today. Photo / Dean Purcell

The Emirates invariably throws up an upset - since 2000, there have been nine winners at $11 or longer.

It could be Roger James' turn to pick up where Gary Hennessy and his Cox Plate winner Ocean Park left off for the Kiwis in Melbourne today.

James saddles three huge feature race chances in He's Remarkable (Flemington, race six, 5pm) and Silent Achiever and Full of Spirit (Flemington, race seven, 5.45pm).

James has also booked Ocean Park's rider Glen Boss for He's Remarkable in the Emirates Stakes.

He's Remarkable, a controversial relegation from first in Perth's Railway Stakes (1600m), looks well placed to gain the elusive group one win. He's won over 1600m at Flemington before, winning an undercard event on this programme last year after failing to make the Emirates line-up.

It's a race that invariably throws up a minor upset too. Only four favourites have won the carnival's final main feature in the last 25 years.

Since 2000, there have been nine winners at $11 or longer.

Silent Achiever will be all the rage in the Matriarch Stakes after her stunning second-up win in the Crystal Mile, but her regular pilot James McDonald will not be aboard. Hugh Bowman has picked up the plum ride on the top-class New Zealand mare after McDonald failed in his appeal against a careless riding ban.

But don't overlook Silent Achiever's stablemate if you're considering a quinella. Full of Spirit didn't get much racing room last time out in the Myer Classic on this track on November 3.

•James McDonald's hopes of riding on Emirates Stakes day were dashed yesterday when he failed in his appeal against a careless riding ban from his Melbourne Cup ride.

The suspension rules him out of his four rides at Flemington today including important mounts on Secret Admirer in the A$1 million ($1.28 million) Emirates Stakes and Satin Shoes in the A$1 million Patinack Farm Classic.

He'll also miss out on riding Silent Achiever who is a short-priced favourite for the Group Two Matriarch Stakes and Lightinthenite who runs in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

McDonald, who can return to riding on November 21, was suspended for causing interference in the Melbourne Cup when he rode the runner-up Fiorente.

Brenton Avdulla has picked up the ride on Secret Admirer in the Group One Emirates Stakes. Avdulla has won two Group One races on the mare - both over 1600m - and last rode her two starts back when she was unplaced in the Caulfield Cup.

Steven Arnold will be aboard Satin Shoes. Craig Williams rides Lightinthenite.

-AAP