MIKE de Kock saddled a first stakes winner for his wife Diane when the 25-1 outsider Silent Force made a mockery of the handicapper to run out an easy winner of the R150 000 Listed Queen Of The Sand run over 1600m on the Vaal sand on Tuesday.

The race was also a big one for the winning rider, young apprentice Akash Aucharuz, who made it a memorable double after winning on Rivulet for Diane Stenger in 2013.

Silent Force: Ears flat back, but gave her rivals a hiding anyway. (JC Photos)

Silent Force is a three-year-old with a mind of her own. But she sure can run when on song and showed that she might have needed her last run after improving lengths and capitalising on a poor showing from the favourite.

In a true family affair, Silent Force was saddled by the couple’s son Matthew.

Silent Force is a Rosedene Stud bred daughter of Horse Chestnut. She is out of the six time winning Goldkeeper mare, Hialeah.

She was sold for R110 000 on the National Yearling Sale and took her earnings to R190 750 with this second victory from 10 starts.

“So excited for my filly’s win today in the Queen of the Sand – SILENT FORCE! Thank you Mathew and Michael and the whole team who made this possible. And her groom Peter. Well done my champion girl!!”wrote Diane on Facebook.

-extracts from Sporting Post review.