Missed the Cut came in second, only a nose ahead of Bold Act, Silver Knott's stablemate.
In the Elkhorn Stakes (G2T) on April 20 at Keeneland, the British-trained Silver Knott—who had previously finished in the silver or bronze levels in five graded starts in the United States—won the gold in his maiden race as a 4-year-old, defeating both Missed the Cut and his strong favourite, Bold Act.
Godolphin's Silver Knott took the lead going into the final of the race's three circuits, establishing a two-length advantage in the middle of the straight, and Flavien Prat never let him get close. The San Luis Rey Stakes (G3T) and San Marcos Stakes (G3T) winner at Santa Anita Park this year, Missed the Cut, a California invader, was 1 1/2 lengths ahead of the Charlie Appleby youngster when they crossed the wire.
A neck farther behind in third place was Bold Act, the winner of this year's Dubai City of Gold (G2T) at Meydan Racecourse and last fall's Sycamore Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland. He started the race a little slowly, falling behind the leaders in the first and second stages. Once he got loose in the final stretch, he could only muster a meek rally.
"I was in the pocket the entire time, moving slowly away. No way out at any point," stated jockey Frankie Dettori of Bold Act.
On the other hand, Silver Knott relished a relentless outside run, pursuing longshot Wentru through simple fractions of :49.82, 1:16.36, and 1:40.22 before seizing the initiative and demonstrating his dominance.
"We ran and we walked. "Flavien stole it right from the start," Dettori remarked.
Silver Knott finished in 2:27.37 on hard terrain, just missing the cut. He won by paying $13.52.
"I was very pleased when we were going down the backside, and then horses came alongside us so that made us go a little bit," Prat stated. "But it gave him a chance to actually get a nice breather, and once I called on him, as you could tell he had a great turn of foot."
During his 2-year-old season in 2022, he won three of his first five starts in Britain, including the Solario Stakes (G3) and Autumn Stakes (G3). Later that fall, he travelled to America and placed second, just missing the lead, in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) at Keeneland.
In his three-year-old season the previous year, he lost all six of his starts, five of which were in the United States. Nevertheless, he was able to secure three third-place finishes, one of which came in his last start of 2023—the Hollywood Derby (G1T) at Del Mar on December 2, 2023. He also finished second in the Twilight Derby (G2T).
After initial success from the Appleby-trained Master of the Seas in the Maker's Mark Mile Stakes (G1T) and the Brad Cox-trained Encino in the Lexington Stakes (G3), his triumph gave Godolphin their third graded stakes victory of the current Keeneland spring meet.
After winning the $313,750 race, the 4-year-old Lope de Vega gelding brought his career bankroll to $653,276. After 13 starts, his record is 4-2-4.
Silver Knott was bought for the equivalent of $1,035,915 from the 2021 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale from the Whatton Manor Stud consignment. She was bred in Britain by St Albans Bloodstock out of the Nathaniel mare God Given.