With a berth in the December 11 Hong Kong Sprint (HK-G1) on the line, SILENT
SCOTT (El Moxie), the two-time defending champion in the world’s richest
turf sprint, went to the track Tuesday morning for a five-furlong barrier trial.
But the six-year-old gelding failed to display any of his usual brilliance,
struggling home fifth in a field of 13, making the reigning Horse of the Year’s
participation in the International Races increasingly unlikely.
In the aftermath of Tuesday’s performance, owner Archie da Silva pronounced
Silent Witness out of a three-peat attempt, but later announced a decision would
be made in a week.
“(Trainer) Tony (Cruz) wants to see how he gallops next
Tuesday,” da Silva told South China Morning Post, but added, “The chance of him
running is not very high — if it was me, I’d scratch him right now. But Tony’s
the trainer and he’s never made a mistake with the horse, so I have to give him
the benefit of the doubt if he wants to keep going for a week.”
A winner of 18 of his 20 career starts to date and nearly $7.4 million,
Silent Witness was last seen taking the Sprinters S. at Nakayama Racecourse on
October 2. He was scheduled for a start in the HK International Sprint Trial
(HK-G2) on November 20, but was scratched from that event when blood work
revealed lingering effects from a virus.