Witness equals world record run

Silent Witness is building up a big global following

Super sprinter Silent Witness galloped into the record books on Sunday with victory in Hong Kong - equalling the 16 straight wins of the legendary Cigar.

He is only the fourth horse to match the record winning run, and landed the Chairman's Sprint despite a bad draw.

The five-year-old gelding romped home by a length-and-a-half from Tiber at Sha Tin.

Trained by Tony Cruz and ridden by Felix Coetzee, Silent Witness was the world's top-rated 2004 turf sprinter.

South African Coetzee has donned the black and green silks for every Silent Witness win - all at the same racetrack.

The horse is a symbol for Hong Kong Archie da Silva, Owner Silent Witness

And the jockey praised the way his mount overcame a tricky outside draw.

"Amazing. He just switched off. They tried to ease the tempo in front on the turn, but I didn't let him break his stride and he just cruised up there, and away he went," said Coetzee.

Silent Witness shares the winning record with his great-great-great grandfather - the unbeaten Ribot, the top Italian runner of the 1950s, as well as North American horses Cigar and Citation, both of whom triumphed in the 1990s.

Archie da Silva, owner of Silent Witness, said: "We knew he has the ability to win, but you never know what can happen in racing, accidents can happen, and that made me nervous.

"But once I saw that he jumped well (from the stalls), I felt that we had it in the bag."