News

Richard Jolly unlikely to push Silversands down Thousand Guineas path, set to stick to sprint trips

24th Sep 2014

The Advertiser - Tom Biddington - Thursday, 25 September 2014

RICHARD Jolly’s smart filly Silversands is set to skip the Thousand Guineas and stick to the sprint trips during the spring carnival.

The talented type returns to the scene of her biggest — and only — victory Friday night, stepping out in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.

Silversands won the $250,000 Inglis Banner on Cox Plate day last year but has battled a series of niggling injuries which have restricted her to just four career starts.

She’s had just one run since January and Jolly thinks it’s a tough task to get her up and firing in time for the Group 1 Thousand Guineas but is keeping his options open.

“We’ve paid up for her but I think it would be unlikely,” the Adelaide trainer said.

“The William Crockett Stakes is next month and then we’ve got another fillies race down the straight during Cup week.

“We’ve just got to see how she goes Friday night.”

Silversands caught the eye when resuming, flashing home to Phillip Stokes’ highly-rated gelding Eclair Choice at Morphettville.

“That was quite a good little field for an Adelaide race and she probably went better than we expected,” Jolly said.

“She needed the run and was beaten less than a length — we were more than happy.”

Senior jockey Michael Walker, who steered Silversands to her sole victory, is back on board but will need some luck after drawing the outside gate in the field of 10.

Jolly rates Eloping as “clearly the one to beat” but knows Silversands has an advantage as one of only two runners (Tawteen is the other) who boast a win at the unique venue.

“She’s been there and done that, so there’s no worries about the track,” he said.

“I don’t think she’s at her best yet, but we’ve got some nice fillies races coming up for her so if she ran in the top four, from that barrier, we’d be more than happy.”

Jolly also confirmed impressive first-up winner Alcohol will take his place as top-weight in Sunday’s Gawler Cup.

“I’m not overly pleased with the 60.5kg, but Kayla Cross is going to ride him and claim 1.5kg,” he said.

“Second-up, 1500m, big weight, it’s not going to be easy for him but he’s a pretty competitive horse.”