A leading Melbourne bookmaker yesterday cast doubts on the ability of Silent Witness to see out a strong 1,600 metres and said he would oppose the wonder sprinter in Saturday's Champions Mile at Sha Tin.
Michael Eskander described Silent Witness as being 'at his most vulnerable' in this race, where his speed will be stretched to 1,600 metres for the first time in 18 starts.
'If Silent Witness's amazing winning stretch is to come to an end, he is at his most vulnerable this Saturday,' Eskander said. 'He'll be stepping up to a mile for the first time, against a world-class miler in Attraction, a powerful on-pace mare that last year won both the English and Irish 1,000 Guineas over this distance, as well as the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, which is like the European 1,000 Guineas.
'I believe she will really test his champion qualities. While there is no doubting his ability over the sprint trips, I've been luck enough to be at the track to see him race three times and I'm firmly of the view that he was tiring in the closing stages of the Queens Silver Jubilee Cup three weeks ago.'
Eskander added: 'I've marked him A$1.35 (for A$1) and am very happy to lay Silent Witness at that price.
Champions Mile market: $1.35 Silent Witness, $5 Attraction, $13 Bullish Luck, $21 Town Of Fionn, $26 Ain't Here, Super Kid, $34 Perfect Partner, Cosmo Bulk, $41 Delzao, $41 Tiber, $51 The Duke, $67 Bowman's Crossing, $101 Meiner Solomon, Sambuca.