While champion Silent Witness methodically prepares to extend his unbeaten career to 16 wins at Sha Tin on Sunday, his baby half-sister is at the threshold career, looking for someone to take her home from the yearling sales in Sydney tomorrow.
The chestnut daughter of outstanding broodmare Jada Tiara is by one of Australia's hottest young sires, Encosta de Lago, and should bring upwards of A$500,000 ($3 million) when she goes under the gavel at the third session of the William Inglis Australian Easter Yearling sale.
Breeder Ian Smith says the filly will go with his complete confidence, just as Jade Tiara's two earlier foals, Silent Witness and Very Fit, did in their particular years.
'She's a lovely filly, still quite immature but very athletic,' Smith said yesterday. 'In the paddock at home, she's a beautiful mover. Like Silent Witness and Very Fit, I wouldn't expect her to be a two-year-old but if she's looked after she should come into her own at three. But if she didn't sell, I'd be very happy to take her home and race her myself.'
These days, Smith is something of a fringe player in the Silent Witness saga, but an important one nonetheless. He and his wife of seven years, Andre, flew to Hong Kong to see the great one win his first Hong Kong Sprint in December 2003 and still treasure the memory as one of their greatest in racing.
'I remember the words of your commentator David Raphael - 'I thought Pegasus was a myth but here he is today'. When I heard those words, it suddenly put the whole thing into a new perspective and the emotion of it all completely overcame me,' Smith said.
The Smiths say they were 'blown away' by the popularity of Silent Witness in Hong Kong, and the way he has positively impacted on so many lives.