Silver Lake Sets Post To Post Meadows Record

VICTORIAN trainer Graham James really knows how to “put the boot in” to a fellow trainer.

As the James-trained Silver Lake broke the post to post record at The Meadows in a trial on Monday, he looked back to the handler of the very next trial.

“It was none other than Graham Jose the trainer of Mantra Lad,” said James.

Silver Lake (Fernando Bale-Hot Charmola) slipped 24.32 to break the post to post record at The Meadows held since 2009 by champion stayer Mantra Lad of 24.39.

Silver Lake, winner at five of his seven race starts and the Ballarat track record breaker, is on target for the rich Group 2 Launching Pad heats at Sandown on March 18.

“But in the meantime we have got to keep him ticking over and we are doing that with some trials around The Meadows,” said James.

“There is no doubt he will race there in the future.”

Silver Lake has been in the James kennel, swapping from owner Lyn Gough, for the past three weeks. 

“He was reared here for 12 months so he knows the place,” said James.

“But he has settled in great.

“We are just ticking along waiting for the Launching Pad series to get underway.

“As it is, the final of that race will not be for another six weeks. That's why he will go to The Meadows. We will nurse him along as much as we can.”

The racing world is keen to see Silver Lake back in action, but none more than Graham James.

“The record post to post did not surprise me,” he said.

“All going well in the future, there is no doubt he has the ability to break more records.”