The 2015 Stan Fox Stakes nominations have been released and only nine horses have been included in the initial entries for the Group 2 event.
Fireworks is the only filly that has been included in the 2015 Stan Fox Stakes nominations. Photo by: Steve Hart
Press Statement has a clear ratings edge on the eight other horses that have been included in the Stan Fox Stakes nominations and trainer Chris Waller confirmed yesterday that the talented colt would contest the $200,000 event.
The son of Hinchinbrook recorded three wins from as many starts as a two-year-old, including an impressive victory in the Group 1 J.J. Atkins (1600m) at Doomben during the 2015 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival, and he started his 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with a classy second behind Exosphere in the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 29, but he was blocked for a run and he could finish no better than fifth in the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at the same venue on September 12.
Press Statement is currently on top of the 2015 Caulfield Guineas betting market with Ladbrokes and he will head to Melbourne for the $1 million race after he runs in the Stan Fox Stakes this weekend.
He is joined in the 2015 Stan Fox Stakes nominations by stablemate Metallic Crown, but the Ming Dynasty Quality winner is set to head to Melbourne to contest the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Another trainer that has multiple horses in the Stan Fox Stakes nominations is Gerald Ryan, who has included both Flying Achilles and Fireworks in the entries for the Group 2 event.
Flying Achilles will face the toughest test of his career to date in the Stan Fox Stakes after he recorded wins at Warwick Farm on September 9 and Newcastle on September 18, while Fireworks could take on the colts and geldings after she finished fifth in both the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on August 22 and the Group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m) at the same venue on September 5.
Queensland-based trainer Bruce Hill has accumulated a strong team of promising younger horses and he could bring both Man Of His Word and Winning Accord to Sydney for the Stan Fox Stakes.
Man Of His Word claimed the biggest win of his career to date at the Gold Coast on Saturday, while Winning Accord has made it two wins from as many race starts this preparation.
The Golden Rose Stakes is generally a key form reference for the Stan Fox Stakes and Rageese and Shards are both a chance to back-up this Saturday after missing the placings in the Group 1 event.
The Stan Fox Stakes nominations are rounded out by Anthony Cummings-trained Maven Wiz, who has missed the placings in his two race starts to date.
