October’s Group 1 Flight Stakes could be on the spring agenda for the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Swift Witness after her solid win in a tragic edition of the 2021 Silver Shadow Stakes at Randwick.

Swift Witness stayed out of trouble in a tragic edition of the 2021 Silver Shadow Stakes to win. Photo: Steve Hart.

An early spring lead-up for three-year-old fillies, the Group 2 $200,000 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) results were marred by the distressing breaking down of Xtremetime from the John Thompson stable and the fall of her hoop Brenton Avdulla.

At the 1000m mark the front runners eased the pace right up and many fillies lost momentum as the field bunched.

Things got very tight for Avdulla who tried to find room before checking heels and seemingly getting cut off by jockey Tommy Berry aboard eventual fourth placegetter Jamaea, causing Xtremetime to break down and subsequently be euthanized after the horrific fall.

Able to stay out of trouble was the eventual winner, progressive Star Witness filly Swift Witness racing for the first time since her failed effort when last past the post on a Soft (7) in the Group 1 Golden Slipper back in late March.

Prior to that she was good when runner-up to Glistening in the Group 2 Reisling Stakes and, back on a firmer track fresh off two nice lead-up trials she was able to return to her best form in the Silver Shadow.

Winning hoop Tim Clark was wide and on speed early stages before allowing Swift Witness to ease slightly and settle around fourth in the run as her conqueror in the Reisling, Glistening, led the field around.

All the money in Silver Shadow betting this season was on the resuming Golden Slipper and Inglis Sires’ fourth placegetter Four Moves Ahead who was also doing a bit of work early, over-racing somewhat in her wide position.

Once on the straight, Swift Witness ($7.50) got the room on the inside and hit the line well to beat home the fast-finishing roughie Latino Blend ($21) for Peter & Paul Snowden.

The John Sargent-trained Four Moves Ahead ($2.50) loomed up, but she did it tough as one of the widest onto the straight and had to settle for third first-up.

The next-up option for the fillies out of the Silver Shadow Stakes is the second leg of the ‘Princess Series’, the Group 2 $200,000 Furious Stakes (1200m) back at the track on September 4.

The long-term goal could be the series’ grand final, the Group 1 $750,000 Flight Stakes (1600m) over the Randwick mile on Epsom Handicap Day, October 2, but co-trainer Waterhouse said time would tell whether Swift Witness would be suited to the 1600m.

“To me she is more a sprinter, I don’t think she will get out over too far because she is so brilliant,’’ Waterhouse said.

“We will go to the Furious Stakes next because that is still at 1200m and set weights.

“Then we will think about the Tea Rose Stake and whether we go to the mile for the Flight Stakes

“But she is a lovely type of tenacious filly that we do so well with, the ones I love to have in our stable

“She is back with a vengeance and with give them something to chase when they meet again.’’

Speak Fondly (2015) was the last Silver Shadow Stakes winning filly to go on and claim that year’s Flight Stakes.

All-in 2021 Flight Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au on this year’s Silver Shadow Stakes winner, Swift Witness, has firmed in from $13 to $10.

Four Moves Ahead remains steady as the $8 favourite pre-nominations, while the surprise Silver Shadow runner-up Latino Blend’s Flight Stakes odds have come in from $51 to $17.

Click here for the latest Flight Stakes 2021 futures markets courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2021 Silver Shadow Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia.