Silverstream steals show to give young hoop Ascot thrill

QUALITY mare Silverstream bounced back from a setback to give apprentice Clint Johnston-Porter the biggest win of his career in yesterday’s Group 3 AJ Scahill Stakes (1400m) at Ascot.

Ridden patiently near the back of the field by JohnstonPorter, Silverstream ($6.50) scythed her way through a gap between rivals in the straight to claim a thrilling win.

The Adam Durrant-trained mare beat Properantes ($11) by a neck, with Django ($31) third.

State Solicitor, the $2.90 favourite, and Ulmann ($3.10) finished fifth and sixth.

Silverstream missed last Saturday’s Group 1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) with a hoof abscess but recovered in time to score her third feature win this campaign.

Johnston-Porter outrode his claim in style with a careerbest triumph.

“I’ve just outrode my claim now, so to get that as my last winner, I’m pretty happy,” Johnston-Porter said.

“I got a bit of luck in the straight and she just burst through and put them away.”

Owner Bob Peters said Silverstream could continue her campaign in the Group 3 La Trice Classic (1800m) on New Year’s Day.

“We’ll see how she pulls up,” Peters said.

“This will probably be her last year of racing. Obviously, she’s getting on a bit now.

“I thought she tightened right up after the Railway. She looked a lot slimmer and fitter (yesterday) and she’s proven she was in good nick.”

Peters said State Solicitor would be spelled. “I thought he was going to win halfway down the straight but he just stopped,” he said.

Pre-post favourite Variation was scratched yesterday morning due to a stone bruise.