Silver Age (SAF) has always looked capable of picking up a feature win along the way and Jeff Freedman’s

charge duly did so when swooping late to win the Gr 3 Christmas Handicap over 1600m atClairwood on Wednesday. Bulsara (SAF) flew up late for second ahead of the gallant Always Al (SAF) and favourite Slumdogmillionaire (SAF).

Slumdogmillionaire led early but was eventually relegated to second by Always Al who, after racing very wide in the initial stages, tacked across and set a good gallop, going about five lengths clear. Bay Route settled in third, ahead of Maluti, Orbit War, Silver Age and Badge of Choice. Bulsara was easily ten lengths off the leader with only Mike’s Choice and Captain’s Secret behind him. 

Always Al kept up a bold gallop in the straight and still had a handy lead entering the last furlong. Slumdogmillionaire had tried to close in soon after turning for home but it became clear that he was not going to get to the long-time leader. Silver Age started to close in steadily up the outside and he was the only one who looked likely to catch Always Al 200m out. The latter had started to feel his early exertions and was clearly running on empty as the line loomed. Silver Age overhauled him close to home as Bulsara added a late twist by flashing up the inside to snatch second.

Silver Age is lightly raced for a 4-year-old and spent some time off the track following a promising start to his career as a juvenile. He won well enough here, but was racing of the bottom of the handicap and he won’t find it easy going forward. On the other hand, he may well still have a bit of improvement to come as he does not  have that many miles on the clock, this being only his eleventh career start.

Bulsara is far from reliable but he seems to be back in form and once again showed his liking for this track. He was conceding 6.5kg to the winner, so this was a perfectly respectable effort.

Always Al emerged with his honour intact. This trip seems to stretch him and he certainly didn’t hang about in the early stages, so he was entitled to tire at the end. It the circumstances, it was a brave effort from the front.

Trainer Gavin van Zyl had warned before the race that Slumdogmillionaire would need the run and so it proved. He chased after Always Al willingly enough but was anchored by his huge weight of 62kg and understandably felt the lack of a recent run. He should come on for this outing.

4 ch g Requiem (AUS

) – Russian Belle by Krusenstern (USA)
Mr F Vahab & Mr H R & Late Mrs L Goold 
Bred by Mr & Mrs Bruce Le Roux
Winning trainer: Jeff Freedman