Star
Hinchinbrook colt Press Statement was back to his brilliant best at Rosehill on
Saturday when racing away for a commanding victory in the Group II ATC Stan Fox
Stakes.
A Group I winner of the BRC JJ Atkins Classic during the Brisbane Winter
Carnival, the Chris Waller trained Press Statement has chased Exosphere home at
his first two runs back from a spell, most recently when finishing a luckless fifth
in the Golden Rose.
With Hugh Bowman aboard and a small field of six, Press Statement found his
mojo in this 1500 metre assignment, settling back in the field and powering to
the line to win by three lengths in an utterly dominant display.
Asked to sum up the race in a word, Hugh Bowman did not deliberate for long.
"Painless!" Bowman said.
"I was very impressed with what I felt today. He feels like a Group I horse to
me."
Chris Waller was delighted to have the star colt back on track and bookmakers
reacted immediately to make him a short priced favourite for the Group I MRC Caulfield
Guineas on October 10.
"We go to Melbourne now with a bit of confidence," Waller said.
"He's done plenty of work left handed and he's a very adaptable horse.
"I'm sure he's done enough to represent NSW very well in the Caulfield Guineas."
Bred by Waller stable client Tony Muollo, who also bred and raced Group I
winner Hawkspur, Press Statement was sold at the end of his two year-old season
as a stallion prospect and now runs for a syndicate that includes Vinery Stud
and China Horse Club, in whose colours he runs.
With four wins and a second from six starts, Press Statement has already won
over $660,000 in prizemoney and is a half-brother to Group I winner Pressday, who was also trained by Chris Waller.
He is the fourth winner for Kaaptive Empress, a half-sister to the dam of Group
I winner The Mighty Lions, The dam of Group III winner Vaquera.
Kaaptive Empress has a yearling filly by Street Cry (IRE) and has already
foaled this spring producing another filly by Press Statement's sire Hinchinbrook.
A three-quarter brother by Fastnet Rock to Snitzel, Hinchinbrook was the
Champion First Season Sire for 2014/2015 and is fully booked at Yarraman Park
at a fee of $16,500.