Silky Smooth
Thu 16 Feb 2023
WINNER 11 OF 2023: SILKY WILKIE, trained by Karl Burke and ridden by Sam Feilden (-7): The feature, Class 3 'Try Our New Price Boosts at Unibet Handicap' (Qualifier) over 6f at Kempton.
Out the gates like a greyhound and with his ears pricked, he got to the rail and strode along, putting a widening gap back to the field, except for Tolstoy, who pulled his way into 2nd. They were around 6 lengths clear at one stage and setting a fast pace, the commentator Mike Cattermole remarked "will these two get home here?"
Still going easily over 2f out, Sam gave him a shake of the reins and he quickened again, with his customary low head carriage, kept on strongly inside the final furlong and remarkably unchallenged, won by 3 lengths!
"Silky Wilkie is not for catching!" Watch the full race replay here: https://www.racingtv.com/videos/watch/horse_racing_replays/431335-try-our-new-price-boosts-at-unibet-handicap-qualifier-3
The Racing Post made him their 'Star performer' from the card: "Silky Wilkie (8.00) gained reward for a string of consistent efforts in defeat."
Timeform rated it as a career best p109 performance, saying: "Went one better than on his previous 3 starts, showing a terrifically willing way of going about things returned to front-running, even if he was helped by most of the field allowing him and the second plenty of rope; led, travelled well, kicked on 2f out, in command final 1f, well on top finish; he's unexposed at 6f.”
Sam said in his Racing TV interview with James Millman: "He pinged the gates, we had the rail and so I thought I would use it to my advantage. He has such a good cruising speed and we had everything beaten 2 out! It was a good race and he is the kind of horse you want in the yard."
Syndicate manager Mike says: "Social media has been showing a lot of love for Silky! He is so tough and likeable, this was well deserved and it was a cracking ride by Sam. Well done to his owners, he has been a fine horse for them, with 5 wins, 11 2nd places and two 3rd places from 23 races! Another breeze up success story for us to add to the roll of honour of winners from these sales.”
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