Silent Surrente continues bid for Melbourne Cup ticket after disastrous Roy Higgins

It all went horribly wrong for SA mare Silent Surrente in her first attempt at a Melbourne Cup golden ticket, but she’s back at Flemington on Saturday for another go in the Andrew Ramsden.

It all went pear-shaped for Silent Surrente in the Roy Higgins in March, but the Adelaide Cup winning-mare has her chance to hit back at Flemington in Saturday’s Listed Andrew Ramsden (2800m).

Silent Surrente’s bid for a Melbourne Cup golden ticket took a blow in the Roy Higgins (2600m), the mare finished ninth behind talented stayer Deakin in a race where nothing went right.

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Co-trainer Niki O’Shea dashed a line through the run, and the Fiorente mare bounced back to form with a third placing in the Port Adelaide Cup (2500m) at Morphettville last start.

“It was a disaster (the Roy Higgins), we couldn’t have planned for it, no one knew that was going to happen,” O’Shea, who trains in partnership with Will Clarken, said.

“She stepped slowly, ended up behind them and then over-raced really badly.

“On the corner it looked like he (Craig Williams) was going to pull her up, and then she actually ran on again, so she actually ran well – but obviously just draw a line through it.”

Silent Surrente was beaten by two lengths in the Port Adelaide Cup, finishing behind Sir Kingsford and Basilinna.

The mare looked at risk of fading out at the 500m, but stuck to the task bravely under leading apprentice jockey Rochelle Milnes.

"Oh yes Rochelle!"

A bold front-running ride from Rochelle Milnes sees Silent Surrente make it a local winner in the 2025 Adelaide Cup! 🏆@[e-mail]/mmMV9UqQpN

— Racing.com (@Racing) March 10, 2025

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“She was good, solid, tough as usual,” he said.

“It was obviously a hard set up for her, she had a tough weight (58kg), the race didn’t run on the minimum so it was always going to be difficult.

“She ran creditably, she was keeping at it going to the line. I was happy with her five weeks between runs, she could’ve been a bit soft but she was very good.”

O’Shea is confident his honest mare will put her best foot forward again, but is wary Saturday will mark her eighth run of a taxing campaign.

“She never wants to give up, we’re hopefully this weekend again,” he said.

“In fairness to her, she’s had a long prep, she’s going to run out of steam at some stage but she seems to be getting the trip well in these races.

“You’d think she would run well again, there’s a little bit of rain due, if that came it would be great, she would love a bit of juice in the ground.

“She’s just so tough, she just keeps wanting to turn up.”

Niki O'Shea and Will Clarken (left to right) celebrate following Silent Surrente's Adelaide Cup win. Picture: Makoto Kaneko

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Silent Surrente ($14 Sportsbet) is attempting to replicate the effort’s of fellow SA mare The Map, who won last year’s Andrew Ramsden, securing a Melbourne Cup berth.

“It’s a tough race, I’d be delighted with her if she placed, there’s some good horses in it, I think it’s probably her last run of the season.”

John Allen will pilot the mare on Saturday, replacing Milnes, who received a five-meeting ban for careless riding in the Port Adelaide Cup.

It’s rotten luck for Milnes, who also missed the mare’s Roy Higgins run due to suspension.

“It’s unfortunate, because she (Milnes) seems to be getting on great with her,” O’Shea said.

“She’s been riding her very well and it’s a pity she doesn’t get the chance because I’m sure she would love to ride her in one of these bigger races.”

Originally published as Silent Surrente continues bid for Melbourne Cup ticket after disastrous Roy Higgins