Meydan Betting: Rags to Riches

It was the 30th November 2010 and Silaah had just pocketed £500 after finishing second in a Class Six claiming race at Lingfield. Skip forward three months and he is racing for £58,000 at the Dubai Racing Carnival. How did his fortunes turn around so quickly?

The 7-year old bay gelding missed most of the 2010 turf season through injury and only got going again at the start of the All Weather season in late Autumn. The inauspicious start at Lingfield was followed by several creditable but losing performances in Southwell handicaps. With his rating planted in the mid-80s he was treading water until his win on New Year’s Day changed everything.

Always travelling well he was pushed out to win a class three handicap at Southwell by 1.5 lengths. The quick fire double was compeleted five days later in emphatic fashion when he routed a decent field at Kempton. Showing excellent early pace he dashed clear at halfway, no horse got close as he eased to a 3.75 length victory.

Great credit must go to ‘Spring King’ Dandy Nicholls who has the horse in the form of his life. Now rated 101, Silaah takes up an invite in the 3.05 at Meydan where he faces multiple Group One winning sprinter J J The Jet Plane.

An outsider in the race, Silaah has earned his place. Even if he finishes sixth he will still earn four times the amount he did on that cold forgettable day in November.