Race favourite Press Statement (Hinchinbrook) was never offered at public
auction, although was sold to a syndicate of breeders including China Horse
Club and Vinery Stud at the close of his two year-old season.They would have paid more for him than the total purchase price of every other runner in both Guineas and then some!
A Group I winner at two and half-brother to another Group I winner in Pressday, Press Statement had the runs on the board, and looks well capable of adding a few more before season's end.
The most expensive yearling purchase in either race is $240,000, a sum shared by well fancied More Than Ready (USA) colt Ready for Victory, first emergency Mr Individual (Starspangledbanner) and the unlucky, but highly promising Tulsa (Sebring), who just can't draw a gate and will start from the carpark again here.
Connections must wonder what they have done to deserve 16 gate three times in a row!
Tulsa is however a gelding, so will have many opportunities in life going forward as his racing career will not be ruled by the stallion barn and I believe he has a big win in him somewhere.
Peter Moody has shown himself to be not only a champion trainer, but also an
astute yearling buyer with good chances in both races in Pasadena Girl and
Bassett, both bargain priced offspring of champion New Zealand sire Savaabeel.Pasadena Girl won the Group I ATC Champagne Stakes at two and cost just $25,000 from the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, while lightly raced, but super promising Bassett was a $60,000 pick-up from the NZB Premier Yearling Sale.
In recent years, the Thousand Guineas has been the domain of blue-blooded fillies and in that case the Arrowfield homebred Stay With Me fits the bill being by Street Cry (IRE) from champion Redoute's Choice filly Miss Finland, who won this race in 2006.
Click here for Guineas Sale Mail which features no runners by champion sires Redoute's Choice, Fastnet Rock, Exceed and Excel or Lonhro.
