Press Statement was one of the star colts of the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival and jockey Hugh Bowman is confident that the three-year-old is forward enough to win first-up in the 2016 Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Press Statement will return to the races in the 2016 Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill Gardens this weekend. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos
Jason Collett and Tommy Berry rode Press Statement in two recent barrier trials at Royal Randwick on January 12 and Warwick Farm on January 25, but Bowman returned to the saddle to ride the Hinchinbrook colt is an exhibition gallop at Royal Randwick on Saturday and he was delighted with the physical condition of the colt.
Bowman expects Press Statement to take plenty of benefit from his first-up run, but he told Sky Racing HQ that he has been given the impressive by trainer Chris Waller that the two-time Group 1 winner will be ready to win the 2016 Hobartville Stakes this weekend.
“I rode him in a track work gallop on Saturday morning between races and that was the first time I have been on his back since the Caulfield Guineas,” Bowman said.
“I was very impressed.
“He is going to take benefit from the run, but I know that Chris has been very bullish about having him forward enough to win first-up.
“I was very pleased with him, his action is very free and fluid and he has strengthened up physically and he is in good shape.
“He always had a longer action, but he is a stronger colt and he has grown into his frame.
“He is an exciting colt, who is already a Group 1 winner and he has a big autumn ahead I would think.”
Press Statement will return to Group 1 level for the Royal Randwick Guineas (1600m) on March 5 before he takes on the older horses in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 19 and potentially presses on to the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Royal Randwick on April 2 and the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at the same venue a fortnight later.
The Hobartville Stakes field will be released tomorrow and Press Statement is set to take on the likes of stablemate Vanbrugh, Godolphin hopes Etymology, Tarquin and Shards, Eskimo Prince Stakes winner Spill The Beans, last start winner Montaigne, Queensland galloper Too Good To Refuse, Team Snowden-trained Wolf Cry and Kiwi colt Dal Cielo.
