Juvenile Group 1 winner Press Statement is the standout three year old in the small field for the Group 2 $200,000 Dyldam Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Press Statement is set to run in the Stan Fox Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Daniel Costello.
The Chris Waller trained Press Statement has drawn barrier two in the six horse field with Hugh Bowman taking over from Tye Angland.
Angland has ridden Press Statement in four of his five race starts including a win in the Group 1 $600,000 BMW Australia J.J. Atkins (1600m) at Doomben during the Brisbane Winter Carnival earlier this year.
Press Statement is bound for the Group 1 $1m BECK Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 10 and will use the Stan Fox Stakes as his final lead up to the Melbourne Spring Carnival feature for the three year old colts and geldings.
“He’ll be heading to Melbourne for the Caulfield Guineas,” Waller told The Daily Telegraph.
“He’s come through the Golden Rose really well and hopefully he can bounce back into the winners’ circle on Saturday.”
“It looks a nice race for him and then he’ll get back out to the mile, which is the distance he won his Group 1 over.”
Press Statement was having his second run back from a break when he struck trouble in the straight before finishing fifth to Exosphere in the Group 1 $1m De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on September 12.
Rageese from the Team Hawkes stable beat Press Statement home in the Golden Rose Stakes after missing the scrimmage in the straight to finish fourth.
Tommy Berry is back on Rageese after missing the ride in the Golden Rose Stakes and the Street Cry colt has come up with barrier five in the Stan Fox Stakes.
Fireworks is the only filly in the race and has drawn the outside barrier with Brenton Avdulla retaining the ride.
Avdulla has been aboard Fireworks for six of her seven starts, including her two Spring Carnival outings that resulted in two fifths to Speak Fondly at Randwick in the Group 2 $175,000 Coolmore Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) on August 22 and in the Group 2 $175,000 Coolmore Furious Stakes (1200m).
Shards from the John O’Shea stable has drawn barrier one with Sam Clipperton to ride and is coming off a seventh in the Golden Rose Stakes.
Queensland trainer Bruce Hill has travelled down from the Gold Coast with restricted class gallopers Winning Accord and Man Of His Word.
Winning Accord has drawn barrier three with Matthew McGuren to ride and Man Of His Word has drawn next to him at four with Kelvin Wharton in the saddle.
