THERE’s something extra special about a horse winning in your own silks and Diane de Kock was very excited when three-year-old filly Silent Force won at her fourth attempt on sand at the Vaal last week, sporting her blue and green colours.

Silent Force placed twice from her first three starts over 1200m and really enjoyed her first run over a mile, skating home by 8.5-lengths.  It would appear that this surface will be her best and although she beat a weak field, Diane expects her to improve more and stay further.  There are several decent races for stamina-fillies who can race on sand and this one could pay for those delightful outfits Di likes to wear on Summer Cup Day.

Silent Force has a pedigree ideal for sand, being by Horse Chestnut from the six-time winning Zimbabwe-bred mare, Hileah.  Her sire needs no introduction of course – the star hacked up in his only start on dirt in the USA and has produced many dirt handicappers, while Hileah also won for Mike de Kock on the Vaal’s sand track.

Diane tells: “Hileah was raced by Henk Leyenaar’s Sunmark Syndicate, of Ipi Tombe Fame. Mike and Graham Koster of Rosedene Stud bought her for the paddock when she retired. Silent Force went to the National Sale in 2012, where we decided to buy her back.”

Diane’s best previous runner was the Model Man-filly Fashion First, a three-time winner who was destined for stardom before an untimely injury put paid to her career.

It’s too soon to make predictions for Silent Force, but we’ll be holding thumbs!