Press Statement Clear Hobartville Stakes Favourite

Press Statement is currently available at 2016 Hobartville Stakes odds of $2.60 and the talented colt is set to start the Group 2 event at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday as a clear favourite.

Press Statement will return to the races in the 2016 Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill Gardens this morning. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos

Press Statement will return to the races in the 2016 Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill Gardens this morning. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos

Press Statement has not been seen at the races since he took out the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) in October 10 last year, but he performed well in two barrier trials at Royal Randwick on January 12 and Warwick Farm on January 25 to indicate that he was ready for a return to the races.

Punters are confident that Press Statement can make a winning return to the races in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes and trainer Chris Waller believes that the son of Hinchinbrook is ready to run at his best this weekend.

“I am more confident that he is a miler than a 1200 metre horse and it is a safe race to resume in over 1400,” Waller said.

“He doesn’t need a lot of hard racing, he has a long autumn to contend with and in hindsight I am glad that we did miss that Spill The Beans race over 1200 on a wet track.

“He will get a dry track on Saturday and he will show his best form.”

Whole Press Statement is currently on top of Hobartville Stakes betting markets, the early market mover has been Spill The Beans who has been backed from $6 into $5.50.

Spill The Beans produced the best performance of his career to date to take out the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m), but he is set to step-up to 1400 metres for the first time and there are question marks over his ability to run out the trip strongly.

Vanbrugh is another horse that is set to return to the races in the Hobartville Stakes and he has remained steady at a quote of $8.50 since the Hobartville Stakes field was released earlier in the week.

The Encosta De Lago colt was sent to the spelling paddock following his win in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on October 10 and Waller is also bullish about the chances of the talented three-year-old.

The only other horse that are available at single figure Hobartville Stakes odds are Team Snowden-trained Wolf Cry and last start winner Montaigne, who are both priced at $9 to record an upset win.

There has been a sprinkling of support for Dal Cielo ($12 into $11) and Tarquin ($51 into $41), while Etymology ($34 out to $41), Torgersen ($41 out to $51), Le Romain ($15 out to $16) and Balmain Boy ($71 out to $81) have all been on the drift.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.