Revitalised Witness set for soft victory
If the track at Sha Tin today comes up wet - the classification last night was good-to-yielding - then Archie da Silva, the owner of champion Silent Witness, will be a happy man.
'I think he's a three-lengths better horse on softer ground,' said the owner. 'The only time he's struck softer ground, they have been his easiest wins.'
While controversy surrounds the incredible time Silent Witness ran on Thursday morning in his final gallop - the South China Morning Post clocking team made it 21.1, while the Jockey Club's contractors made it 20.7 - either way it's an incredibly swift piece of work. What we can say for certain, with hard video evidence, is his final 200 metres took a mere 10.2 seconds.
Silent Witness has won the Chairman's Sprint Prize in a canter for each of the past two years but his struggling seventh in the Centenary Sprint Cup last month was horrendous to watch. Tony Cruz insisted that he can get Silent Witness back on his pedestal, but there is no margin for error today. Da Silva is adamant - the Witness must run first, second or third or he's on the next flight to Australia for his first real spell in 31/2 years.
Centenary Sprint Cup hero Scintillation was favourite for the rematch at $31, with Silent Witness a second favourite at $42. Natural Blitz, a gallant runner-up in that race, is 'out the gate' to $230 because of the massive stamina doubt surrounding him, while redoubtable Planet Ruler is $110.
The surprise of the overnight price line was the identity of the $43 third favourite. It was Billet Express, and one can only assume that the big-race record of trainer John Moore and the charisma of jockey Christophe Soumillon is behind that surprisingly short quote.
Cruz has engaged visiting Frenchman Olivier Peslier for emerging sprinter Noble Crusader, while Brett Prebble takes over on Fokine.
