Silent achiever is back on track

TALENTED middle distance mare Silent Surround heads to Flemington on Saturday, the scene of her best two career runs.

Silent Surround

TALENTED middle distance mare Silent Surround heads to Flemington on Saturday, the scene of her best two career runs.

The daughter of Face Value ran placings behind class mares Majestic Music and Faint Perfume in the Group 2 Edward Manifold (1600m) and Wakeful Stakes (2000m) back in 2009.

The five-year-old suffered a career-threatening suspensory ligament injury in track work after her last Flemington run - in the Let's Elope Stakes in September 2010 - but has bounced back better than ever according to her trainer.

"She's always had a few niggles but I think she's as good as she's ever been at the moment," Smart said from his Oakbank base.

"I thought that her form last time in was probably better than it first appeared and I was pleased with her first-up effort this time."

Silent Surround charged home late to finish fifth in the Listed Manihi Classic behind Peter Moody's Kulgrinda over an unsuitable Morphettville 1100m. She will race second up in a heat of the rich Winter Championship Series over the Flemington 1400m.

The strong field includes last year's series winner Glaneuse, for Michael O'Leary and 2011 Balaklava Cup winner Magical Pearl for O'Leary's cousin, Dennis O'Leary.

"I didn't want to jump her up to the mile without another run and we just don't have that many 1400m races over here except on the Parks which doesn't really suit," Smart said. "If she qualifies for the final I'll give her one run back here as the final isn't for a few weeks yet."

Jason Benbow has accepted for the ride and the pair have drawn favourably in barrier 10.

As a part-owner, Smart is fully aware of the value of his charge as a broodmare - in excess of $250,000 - but the group of three owners are set on breeding from the mare, who is related to champion staying mare Surround. Also part of the family is Silent Stash - a Dash For Cash filly - who won impressively at Balaklava last week.

"Her dam (Fiery Dee) was a sister of Silent Surround's dam Biography," Smart, who has 10 in training, said.

"She's a nice type.

"I've got A Barely A Moment filly who is soon to turn four but is yet to race that I think has a bit of a future."

But for now the future remains with Smart's stable star who will have just her 21st start on Saturday.

"She's going well enough to win a really nice race so that's what we're trying to do," the trainer said.