With his son Reliable Man (GB) siring the Group III Frank Packer Plate winner Kinane it was fitting that Reliable Man’s champion father Dalakhani (IRE) should chip in with a Group III winner of his own, the three-year-old filly Silent Sovereign in Saturday’s Schweppervescence Stakes (1800m) at Morphettville.
Ridden by Berend Vorster, Silent Sovereign enjoyed a cosy run fourth back on the rails as the 100/1 shot Sphera set up a ten length lead in the middle stages.
When that filly began to weaken turning for home it looked as if the Makfi filly Selica had set up a winning lead however Silent Sovereign finished resolutely to prevail by half a length. The Tavistock filly Walking Flying was one and a quarter lengths back in third.
It was the first win for the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained filly since she broke her maiden at her career debut at Murray Bridge in August last year.
But she has been competitive at stakes level finishing second in the Listed Morphettville Guineas and two fourths at Listed level as well as an honourable sixth in the Group II Wakeful Stakes at Flemington.
Bred and raced by 91yo Donald Moyle, Silent Sovereign is a half-sister to the Listed SAJC Morphettville Guineas winner Silent Command (Commands) out of the Group III SAJC Sires' Produce Stakes winner Silent Surround who placed in the Group II Wakeful Stakes and Group II Edward Manifold Stakes.
A daughter of the Red Ransom (USA) stallion Face Value, Silent Surround was also part-owned by Moyle having been purchased at the 2008 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale for $36,000.
With two stakes-winners from her first two foals she has carried her success on the track to stud.
There is plenty more to look forward to. Silent Surround has an unraced 2yo Dundeel gelding named Silent Don, a yearling filly by Fiorente (IRE) and a weanling filly by So You Think.
She was covered by Highland Reel (IRE) last spring.
Silent Sovereign becomes the 54th stakes-winner for The Aga Khan’s 5-time Group 1 winner Dalakhani (IRE) who shuttled to Cornerstone Stud for three seasons before he was retired from stud duty at the age of 16 in 2016.
