Plan Does the Trick for Silverdale

The Informant reports:

After repeat trips south to oversee his South Island campaigners over the past several weeks, Stephen Autridge wasn't keen on another weekend away from home.

But he wasn't complaining about more time on the road after Silverdale made the sortie to Awapuni worthwhile with a return to form in the feature race on the Rangitikei Racing Club's programme, the Turkington Forestry Bulls Cup.

In the hands of local jockey Darryl Bradley, Silverdale came with a well-time finish to win the 1500-metre contest by three-quarters of a length from Madonna, with Miss Selby third.

“He's a good horse but it was getting to the stage where we had to put the blinkers back on and see what he had,” said Autridge after his and training partner Jamie Richards' 33rd win for the season. “We had to go to plan B to come down here - there wasn't anything for him up north - but I'm pleased we did.

“Being the professional he is, Darryl Bradley had done his homework. He watched the horse's videos this morning and when I gave him the colours he knew he had to get him in the clear and give him one last crack at them.

“I was a bit worried when he was back on the inside to start with, but he got him into the right spot and we got a result.”

In winning for the first time since his New Year's Day victory at Hastings, the Castledale gelding took his record to seven wins from 40 starts.

Silverdale is raced by one of Autridge's longest standing clients, Stan Painton, who lives in the settlement north of Auckland after which the horse is named.

“Stan went to Avondale today as it was closer to home and he backed his mate Frank Drummond's horse El Pescado up there,” Autridge said. “His own horse has now won and I've got another trophy to pass on to him, so he's had a good day - and good on him.”