06 July 2020
by Chris Barsby

Boom pacer Speech Is Silver has continued with his terrific form.

Fresh from registering his seventh successive victory in the Badcock Group of Companies Pace at Albion Park on Saturday night, the Darren Weeks trainee recorded brilliant closing sectionals yet again.

In fact, his closing half of 55.2 seconds (leader to winner) was the fastest of the night.

His splits were even quicker than reigning Horse of the Year Colt Thirty One who scored an all the way victory in the Westburn Grant Open Pace two races later.

And with the revised Brisbane winter carnival commencing this week, there’s an obvious question that most, if not all, are asking.

Will Speech Is Silver take on the Open class performers?

Obvious targets include the $21,160 Wondais Mate Open Pace (1660m) this Saturday night followed by the $25,660 Mr Feelgood Open Pace (2138m) the following week while the $25,660 Lucky Creed Open Pace (2680m) is another option for the gifted pacer.

“He’s come through Saturday night in great shape; he’s actually jumping out of his skin and very well within himself so we’ll assess our options. I thought that victory was one of his best because he was exposed three wide for the final 800m and the splits were fast, that’s not easy to do.” Weeks said.

His winning mile rate of 1:54.5 was also the quickest of the night for races staged over the distance of 2138m.

The former member of the All Stars operation (Mark Purdon & Nat Rasmussen) in Christchurch has been a revelation since arriving in the Sunshine State winning 13 of his 15 starts.

This season, the Mach Three gelding has won 11 of his 13 starts to date.

His only local defeats came when he fired up in front and struck the sulky footrests in the Rising Stars Final last October when sixth behind Tin Roof Raider while he finished as the runner-up behind Arthur Lowe after breaking at the start back on April 28.

A majority of his victories have come via his frightening and powerful finishing bursts, time and time again he has sailed down the straight at Albion Park while his rivals have been left to deal with the remnants of his speed burn.

It will be fascinating to see if he tackles the open class features during the carnival.

Whether he does or doesn’t, the stable will have representation through the likes of Major Cam and Lilac Flash who both performed admirably across the weekend.

Meanwhile, stablemate and classy mare Smart As Camm Be will miss the carnival features owing to a recent setback following her most recent trial at Albion Park on June 16 when unplaced behind star three-year-old filly Pelosi.

“It’s nothing major and more the effect of jarring up so we backed off for a while there but she’s now back in work so we’ll build her up again.” Weeks said.

In her first trial back, Smart As Camm Be finished a pleasing third behind Redcliffe Cup runner-up Northview Hustler in a time of 1:53.2.

The Listed $25,660 Fleur De Lil Ladyship Stakes on Saturday week loomed as a key target for the multiple feature race winner.

Smart As Camm Be has won 12 of her 15 starts to date while banking more than $162,000.

The Cammibest mare hasn’t raced since winning the Redcliffe Oaks last June.