Smooches For All As Silent Scores

Sun Herald

Sunday November 9, 2008

By CRAIG YOUNG FLEMINGTON

GRAHAME BEGG capped off a massive Melbourne Cup week for NSW horses when Hong Kong reject All Silent scored a sizzling win in yesterday's feature event.

All Silent won the AAMI Stakes at the track last Saturday and Begg also had another winner on Oaks Day on Thursday, with Palacio De Cristal saluting. Three starts for as many winners and the planning had been long term.

"We picked this race out probably four months ago," a jubilant Begg said. "We changed tack a few times ... we decided to stay home and run in the Epsom - his run [fourth] was great in the race."

Begg's father, Neville, bought All Silent (see breakout), and he has been taken along slowly.

"He is a five-year-old, it's only his 11th start in a race and still he has it all ahead of him," Begg said. "We have been very careful, planned his races, and we will continue to do so."

With Damien Oliver on the suspended list, Dwayne Dunn was called upon and the jockey was impressed.

"He was explosive - he just took off," Dunn said. "I had a top run in transit, he was just too good."

All Silent pounced on the leaders shortly after straightening, but Dunn waited before unleashing and the 81,652 spectators knew the winner at the 150m mark.

"He just finishes races off so well, doesn't lay down, attacks the line real hard," Begg said.

"It was a great ride, I was a bit worried at the turn, there was a bit of traffic, he takes a furlong to wind up - but he really let down good."

All Silent was easy in a wide open betting race but retained favouritism at $6.50 and scored by three-quarters of a length from Sea Battle ($8) which charged home from the rear. Mimi Lebrock ($8.50) finished third a similar margin away.

"A gallant horse, I'm very proud," Sea Battle's trainer, Mark Kavanagh, said. "A restricted galloper through the winter which has gone on to finish second in a group 1.

"He'll go for a spell now."

Mimi Lebrock's jockey, Craig Williams, said the mare "was given every chance" before adding that "she tried her heart out".

The options for Begg are many with All Silent but everything will hinge on how the horse copes.

"He is entered for Hong Kong, entered for Perth, but I would say more than likely he'll be going home," he said.

"If you go away he won't be running in the autumn, he won't be able to have a decent break."

All Silent, a half-brother to the former Doncaster Handicap and Stradbroke winner Private Steer, has now won five from 11 starts, with earnings of $953,050.

© 2008 Sun Herald

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