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Top-class daughter of O’Reilly died at Valachi Downs
Ultra-talented mare Silent Achiever (O’Reilly) has died at the age of 12, Valachi Downs - who bred and raced the mare - announced on Thursday.
Trained throughout her career by Roger James, the daughter of O’Reilly (Last Tycoon) broke her maiden at the second time of asking, before going on to post a second place finish in the Eight Carat Classic (Gr 2, 1600m).
Her breakthrough at stakes level came when she landed the Championship Stakes (Gr 2, 2100m) after which she strung together three more victories stakes level, taking out the Waikato Guineas (Gr 3, 2000m) - beating subsequent champion Ocean Park (Thorn Park), the Avondale Guineas (Gr 2, 2100m) and her winning streak culminated in a win in the New Zealand Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) - the first filly to win the Group 1 since Popsy’s (Sir Tristram) victory in 1993.
After her win in the Derby, James sent Silent Achiever across the Tasman, where she finished third in the Rosehill Guineas (Gr 1, 2000m) on her first start.
Her first stakes win in Australia came when she landed the Crystal Mile (Gr 2, 1600m).
The autumn of her four-year-old season in 2014 was a particularly memorable campaign. After taking out the New Zealand Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m), Silent Achiever headed over to the Sydney carnival to line up in three weight-for-age events - Ranvet Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m), before following up that success in the BMW Stakes (Gr 1, 2400m), claiming the scalp of Dundeel (High Chaparral) and Fiorente (Monsun) in the process. That campaign was completed with a strong fourth in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m).
“We are saddened to share the news of the loss of our Champion mare Silent Achiever, who delivered us so many memorable performances during her exceptional racing career,” said Kevin Hickman. “She was a special mare who raced with heart and gave her all to every race.
“As a young horse she was just an average horse, pretty small, nothing that would stand out from the crowd. You’d never dream that she would one day turn into the racehorse she did. It’s a tough day for us as we reflect on her wonderful career, but we’re so thankful to have experienced breeding and owning a mare like her.”
Silent Achiever was sent to England in 2015 to be covered by Frankel (Galileo) to Southern Hemisphere time in her first year at stud, producing a filly, who is now named Lady Faustina is now at stud as a broodmare.
The mare has a three-year-old by Frankel, while her two-year-old colt is by his father Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) in the stables at Valachi Racing and her yearling colt by Kingman (Invincible Spirit), who is currently being broken in.
