2015 Caulfield Guineas: Classy Press Statement can overcome barrier 14

Premier trainer Chris Waller is banking on Press Statement’s class and hoping for a bit of luck to overcome barrier fourteen in the Group 1 $1m BECK Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Press Statement has the class to overcome a wide barrier in the Caulfield Guineas. Photo by Steve Hart.

Press Statement has the class to overcome a wide barrier in the Caulfield Guineas. Photo by Steve Hart.

Press Statement is the ruling $2.70 favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au even though he has drawn two from the outside in the sixteen horse field but Waller is confident that Hugh Bowman will be able to find the right path to follow to secure another Group 1 win.

“It doesn’t make it easy, does it,” Waller said.

“Good jockey, he is working well, he is a good horse, in form and is clearly the highest rated horse in the race.”

“If he can overcome barrier fourteen, if he is three wide with cover he will win.”

“He is an exciting horse with an awkward barrier to overcome so just like every race you need a bit of luck but with an awkward barrier you need more.”

Tye Angland was aboard when Press Statement  won the Group 1 $600,000 BMW Australia J.J. Atkins (1600m) at Doomben as a two year old during the Brisbane Winter Carnival but Bowman took over the reins to collect a win in the Group 2 $200,000 Dyldam Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on September 26.

And Bowman has the job on Saturday to navigate a winning path to keep the punters happy again.

Press Statement will also be having his first test at Caulfield which has been a graveyard for Sydney horses in the past but Waller is confident the Hinchinbrook colt will get around the Melbourne way of going okay.

“We do quite a bit of work in Sydney left-handed,” Waller told AAP.

“He would have had three gallops in Sydney before he came down this preparation left-handed.

“He had one at Flemington on Saturday and we brought him here to get him a little bit familiar.”

“I find the good horses are pretty cool, calm and collected and he’s exactly that.”

The Mick Price trained Ready For Victory is the only other runner under $10 and his price has drifted from $6.50 on Wednesday to $8 today even with the blinkers going on for the first time.

If you fancy a bet on at Caulfield on Saturday, log onto Ladbrokes.com.au and get above the odds with their Caulfield Guineas Day Special offer of Best Tote or SP + 20% on your winnings up to a maximum bet of $50.

Caulfield Guineas market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.70 Press Statement, $8 Ready For Victory, $10 Dal Cielo, $12 Tulsa, $13 Tarzino, Bassett, $14 Bon Aurum, $17 Sovereign Nation, $21 Last Bullet, Shards, $26 Lizard Island, $34 Snoopy, Rageese, $41 Mr Individual, $51 Odyssey Moon, $91 Kentucky Flyer, $151 More Than Most.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.