Silent Witness beaten again

Hong Kong sensation Silent Witness narrowly suffered the second defeat of his career when he had to settle for third in the Yasuda Kinen in Japan today.

Tony Cruz’s gelding had previously notched up a record 17 consecutive victories before he was beaten by stablemate Bullish Luck last month when trying a mile for the first time.

He was running over the same trip at Tokyo racecourse in the second leg of the Asian Mile Challenge and although Felix Coetzee had Silent Witness prominent as usual, he was ridden with more restraint on this occasion.

Silent Witness overtook leader Lohengrin two furlongs from home, but he started to labour approaching the post and was passed by the home-trained Asakusa Den’en, ridden by Shinji Fujita.

In a bunched finish, Asakusa Den’en held the late challenge of Sweep Tosho by a neck, with Silent Witness a head back in third. Bullish Luck was fourth.