Silent Love prevails at Chalice Stakes discreetly in Newmarket

Improving filly Silent Love took another step forward with a brave victory in the Listed Chalice Stakes at Newmarket, UK, on Saturday.

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Aiming to follow up a Kempton Park maiden win in June, the Charlie Appleby-trained three-year-old was held up in mid-division of the eight runners by Billy Loughnane, who produced the daughter of Dubawi up the stands’ rail approaching the two-furlong pole.

Silent Love stayed on gamely to collar Jane Temple in the closing strides and saw out the mile and a half well, crossing the line half a length in front, with the front two pulling four and a half lengths clear of Karmology in third.

Charlie Appleby said: “I told Billy before the race that Silent Love would stay, but not to commit her too far out if he could help it. He felt the ground was a bit tacky and he would have won by a couple of lengths with proper soft ground. He was quite impressed with the way she saw it out.

“We have a race in mind at Deauville, the G3 Prix Lady O'Reilly, and this should hopefully give her a nice progression on to that.” Meanwhile, East Avenue swaps Kentucky for West Virginia as he bids for back-to-back G3 wins in the West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Park, USA, on Sunday, 3 August.