In addition, the race this time is 1500m, slightly better for her than last year's 1400m. She also worked in exceptional style with Shuka between races on Magic Millions night at Ellerslie. All of that adds up to Silent Achiever breaking her 15-month duck. The danger is likely to be her stablemate The Tidy Express.
Few horses win three straight these days, but Living The Dream (No5, R1) will give it a good shot in today's opener. She wasn't entirely happy with the rock-hard track on the opening day of the Trentham carnival, but won anyway. She will get every chance with only five opponents.
Timely Reminder (No13, R4) goes into this race as the only maiden in the field, a move to try to get sufficient stakemoney to get a start in the upcoming Derby. If he is any chance to finish in the first half of the Derby field he will go close here. He looked unlucky when second to a very good performance by Take Charge at Ellerslie last start. The heavy rain before the race did not help and he came from an impossible position to be storming home. The barrier draw is not ideal, but he comes in here with a massive chance. Habitual Offender (No8) will be value.
Killarney Kid (No1, R5) drew very wide last week and was scratched. As we said before that engagement Killarney Kid was beaten at Pukekohe when rider Josh Adams became unwell and was unable to assist the horse. He is a good stayer and despite the topweight should be very competitive. Sir Lancelot (No7) is close to another win.
Glorious Lad (No3, R6) was unlucky in the Waikato Guineas, being caught wide. His effort for fourth, given the extra ground he covered, was remarkable and he gets a lot better chance from today's better barrier draw in the Avondale Guineas. Chambord (No5) is too good to drop for one failure - even allowing it was a beaut - and is well up to winning this at peak.
Rising Romance (No14) and Delago's Secret (No6) are threats.
Race 7 is tough. Delveen (No9) won nicely at Te Rapa two starts back then got no luck last start when she got well back and ran home strongly into a close fourth.
Just forget the last two starts by More Than Sacred (No11, R8). The Ellerslie track was not perfect for the City of Auckland Cup and her saddle slipped at Trentham last start. She is a dour stayer and the 2400m coupled with 52.5kg look ideal partners for the Cambridge mare in the Avondale Cup. She looks one of the better prospects on the programme. Who Shot Thebarman (No7) is an extremely talented stayer on the way through. He has yet to race right-handed, this clearly being an educational run for his possible Auckland Cup attempt.
Etoile Filante (No17) is a class mare on the improve. She did not win by a lot at Te Rapa last time and this is a huge rise in class, but she should not be ignored.
Mosquito (No6) is classy and although he will be better off in the 3200m Auckland Cup, you can't disregard him here.
Stablemates Hollywood Lad (No7, R9) and Lady Cumquat (No10) are a pair of 3-year-olds heading places. Difficult to separate them here, although Hollywood Lad has drawn slightly better. Casino Park (No1) did not do a lot at Te Rapa last week, but is capable of popping up.
New Zealander David Jewell has been appointed chief executive of Wyong Racing Club in New South Wales.
Jewell has served as New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing's general manager of racing and operations for the past three years, having previously worked with the Manawatu Racing Club.
NZTR chairman Matthew Goodson said Jewell's vast racing management experience and passion for New Zealand racing would be sorely missed.
