Silent but deadly

Getty Images ©

All Silent maintained his unbeaten Flemington record and stamped himself as heir apparent to Scenic Blast as Australia's premier sprinter with a stunning performance to win the $500,000 Group One Patinack Farm Classic (1200 metres) on Emirates Stakes Day.

Still last with 400 metres to go, All Silent, the $3.90 favourite, unleashed an electrifying final sprint to swamp a class field of sprinters including public hero Apache Cat (fourth), Mic Mac (fifth) and Nicconi (ninth).

The win also continued young jockey Nicholas Hall's emergence as one of the up-and-coming stars of Australian racing. It was his third win for Cup week and his second Group One success following his Turnbull Stakes win on Efficient a month ago.

Trainer Grahame Begg was clearly delighted with the result.

"He never exerts himself on the track this horse. He just holds himself in all the time and in his races he's pretty relaxed, but one thing with him, he loves firm ground, he just loves getting on the good tracks, obviously he relishes Flemington, he's four from four, outstanding performance," Begg said.

Twelve months ago on this day, All Silent won the Emirates Stakes but Begg opted to restrict the horse to sprint races this time in with an eye to the Hong Kong International meeting in December.

"We'll just let the dust settle, get through today's race - it's five weeks away so we've got to get back to Sydney, see how he comes through it all before we decide," Begg said.

Hall, the son of multiple Group One-winning rider Greg, is getting more and more comfortable on the big stage. He didn't panic in the run, despite having to reel off a remarkable last 200 metres to get the prize.

"I was really confident going into the race, he's got a better turn of foot than any horse I've ridden - to beat those horses, I think he's going to be a crowd favourite," Hall said.

"There was always the option to follow Apache Cat to the inside of me, but on such a good horse and I've been riding him a bit and know how explosive he can be, you've just got to ride them confident."

Hall said he hoped connections opted to go to Hong Kong.

"It'd be a fantastic thrill to ride internationally."

All Silent won officially by three-quarters of a length from $16 chance Wanted (Luke Nolen) with a neck to $12 Bank Robber (Blake Shinn) in third place. The winner's time was 1:08.78.

All Silent's record is now eight wins from 19 starts for career earnings of $1.6 million.