Track conditions for the second year in a row and alarmingly the third time in just five years were wet and the winning time of 2:33.55 is one of the five slowest times ever. Only last year, when the race was held on an absolute bog, the slowest time ever recorded of 2:38.35 was run by Jimmy Choux. The race since being moved to a March date (autumn feature) since 2006 has seen seven runnings and significantly four of them have recorded 2:31.04 or slower times. From the 1975 winner Balmerino until the 2006 move to a March date there has only been seven slower runnings than the 2:31.04 of Coniston Bluebird in 2009 and that covers a staggering 30 years. Worse still three of the slowest Derby times in history have been run since the March date move with 2008 (C’est La Guerre in 2:33.47), 2011 (Jimmy Choux in 2:38.35) and now Silent Achiever in 2:33.55 this year. The other two slow times in 2400m Derby history were Satisfy in 1987 by promotion on a rain-affected track in 2:35.41 and Ruling Lad in 1979, also on a rain-affected track, in 2:35.38. Three of the five slowest times in history including the worst time ever have been run since 2007, so we have a scheduling problem with this once great race. It is not chance or bad luck that the slowest, fourth slowest and fifth slowest run NZ Derbies ever have been held since the March move and some pride swallowing is in order to right an obvious wrong. Fixing something that is not broken was a mistake and only admittance and leadership can put the race back onto a summer pedestal instead of under an autumn umbrella. History says only a top filly wins this race and Silent Achiever follows in the footsteps of a terrific trio before her (Our Flight in 1982, Tidal Light in 1986 and Popsy in 1993) but one must factor in this March-component now and the race becoming a wet track feature more often than not. It was the fourth win for trainer Roger James himself after a nostalgic nineties (Roysn in 1995, Zonda in 1997 and Hades in 1999) and a fifth win in the race as he co-trained Tidal Light (1986) with Jim Gibbs. The influence of Zabeel and Sir Tristram in the Derby as sires has been immense and no surprise that four of the first five home were either by Zabeel or out of a Sir Tristram dam or a dam by his son Zabeel. The winner Silent Achiever (Zabeel dam Winning Spree), runner up Rock 'N' Pop (Sir Tristram dam Popsy that won the Derby herself in 1993), fourth finisher Chicharita (Sir Tristram dam Trisynd) and fifth finisher Zurella (by Zabeel). The blacktype form stood out as the first five home were all Group winners or Group placegetters this season and the only one of six in the field with such a record to miss out was Shuka, which led and did not stay. Rock ‘N’ Pop needs better footing to accelerate but the colt was very good in defeat, while Carrick was a big run after losing his place and may have in fact reached second too soon in the run home chasing the winning filly. Super effort by the filly Chicharita from last on settling and Zurella was game but does seem more tractable left-handed at this stage. Travolta was a very good effort and is underrated, while Red Shift ran on the last 100m like he will relish two miles next season or the one after that for his new owners. Roamin was honest after copping some strife early and a lap out.