Silvasista will need to defy recent history if she is to claim the Group 1 $1 million SA Derby (2518m) at Morphettville tomorrow, as the flashy grey filly bids to emulate Lazer Sharp by landing the VRC St Leger-Derby double.
Seven days ago, the daughter of Toronado made light work of her St Leger (2800m) opposition, romping to a three-and-a-half-length triumph in the Flemington feature. However, the unlikely double is seldom achieved, with Lazer Sharp's 2007 double act the most recent example of both races being claimed.
With that said, could Silvasista do it? "She hasn't missed a beat, but I can't answer that to be honest," co-trainer Tony McEvoy told Punters. "We can only go on what we see – I pulled a blood (test) – it was perfect. She's lovely and sound, and she's just got to prove to us that she can travel back to Adelaide and run well. If she does that, she will probably head to Queensland for the Oaks."
McEvoy, who trains alongside son Calvin, said it was a long-term mission to get the filly over longer distances, having not raced beyond a mile until last month. "We always wanted to get her to the SA Fillies Classic (2500m) in Adelaide, we were always keen to get her over ground," he said. "We ran her in the Lindop Stakes to see if she was an Australasian Oaks filly as well. Rochelle (Milnes) didn't have a great day on her, but it wasn't just the ride, she just didn't go, and ran a very poor race. We were really scratching our heads and took her home and she was perfect in every way. We thought, we'll lower our sights, we went to Donald (2200m) and she handled it well, she was a little bit out on her feet late and then we went to the Leger. And when she came out and did that, that changed our mind and we thought we would come for the Derby."
When Lazer Sharp won the Derby, there was an 11-day break between the St Leger and that race, making Silvasista's task even tougher. Yet McEvoy remains optimistic, especially with $2.60 race favourite Accidental Bid still sweating on a start as the first emergency. "It can be done," McEvoy said. "You need a special horse to be able to do it - not every horse can back-up - so that's always a risk but if they prove that they can, it's a great tool to be able to do it. The major chances I thought were a bit plain in the Chairman's (Stakes), and the favourite isn't in the race – it's an emergency. It could be an opportunity, it really could be an opportunity for us in this race. I'm very excited to have her there."
