The Press Statement colt, Daily Bugle, will head to Sydney for the Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Randwick following a solid win in Saturday’s Mornington Sires (1500m).
Ridden by Jamie Mott for trainers Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock. Daily Bugle lobbed in to the one out one back spot.
When given his head, the son of Press Statement made it an easy watch for his supporters. He went on to defeat Godolphin’s fast-finishing Teofilo colt Alegron by one and a quarter-lengths with that colts better fancied stablemate Micro (Medaglia d’Oro) a short-head back in third.
After making a winning career debut at Pakenham on January 28, Daily Bugle finished second to Lightsaber at Sandown three weeks later. He met Lightsaber again in the Group II VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes where he failed to strike a blow behind the son of Zoustar.
“The owners were pretty despondent after leaving Flemington last time but Robbie and myself never gave up belief in the horse and you can see his ability today,” de Kock said.
“Jamie (Mott) rode a spectacular race and I knew he was in the right place but he’s got a very good sprint, this horse, which puts him in with a big shout."
De Kock said putting the Sydney Autumn Carnival back a week could be beneficial for Daily Bugle.
“With our facilities we can keep horses ticking over and with the team at home everyone has done a great job so we’re heading that way,” he said.
Jamie Mott said Daily Bugle had more to offer.
“He’s a really nice little horse and he’s got a lot of improvement to come. So, why not have a throw at the stumps in Sydney and it’s probably the right time to do it,” he said.
A $230,000 purchase by Robbie Griffiths Racing & Peter Ford Thoroughbreds (FBAA), out of the Tarcoola Stud draft at the 2020 Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, Daily Bugle is a half-brother to the Group III Caulfield Classic winner Thought Of That (So You Think).
They are the only foals to race out of the Sydney winning Danehill Dancer mare Hold Me Closer.
A half-sister to the Listed winner and Group 1 Golden Slipper runner-up How Funny (Rory’s Jester), Hold Me Closer has a yearling filly by Spirit Of Boom, a filly foal by So You Think, and was covered by Brazen Beau last spring.
