Silent Sovereign shares win

Ultra-consistent grey mare Silent Sovereign had to settle for a share of first prize in her consolation prize on Ballarat Cup day, Saturday, November 20.

Trainers Tony & Calvin McEvoy had hoped to have Silent Sovereign contest the feature event, the Listed Ballarat Cup, but unfortunately the mare didn’t obtain a start.

So, the McEvoys lined her up in the $130,000 Global Turf Benchmark 84 Handicap (2000m) on their home track.

Ridden by Luke Currie, Silent Sovereign settled towards the tail of the field but gradually improved to be midfield in a striking position on the turn.

A $9 chance, Silent Sovereign ran home powerfully and made a bound late, but the judge couldn’t find a margin and she had to share first prize with Just Benjamin ($10).

Seawhatyouthink ($9) ran on well to grab third a head away, just in front of the McEvoy-trained Sign of Ussuri ($21).

Trainer Calvin McEvoy was proud of Silent Sovereign.

“She ran super,” McEvoy said.

“I suppose it is nice to share it with a good mate in Sam Freedman (who co-trains Just Benjamin with his father Anthony).

“We are very pleased with the mare.

“We had her here to peak third up, and 2000m without a jump out just third up was a fantastic effort.”

McEvoy said there had been confident Silent Sovereign would be hard to beat.

“There is more improvement to come.

“We had to have work out now what we want to do – whether we go up to 2500 (metres) or another run at 2000m.

“She is going so well for connections.”

The five-year-old mare has four wins and six placings from just 19 starts and has been ultra-consistent for the McEvoys.