Press Statement has been backed into 2016 Hobartville Stakes odds of $2.25 and he is set to start the Group 2 event at Rosehill Gardens this afternoon as a dominant fashion.
Press Statement is a clear favourite in 2016 Hobartville Stakes betting markets. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos
Press Statement opened at a quote of $2.60 when the Hobartville Stakes field was released earlier in the week, but there has been consistent support for the Caulfield Guineas winner and punters are confident that he can make a winning return to the races.
Trainer Chris Waller has been very bullish about the chances of Press Statement throughout the week and he is confident that the son of Hinchinbrook is forward enough to win the 2016 Hobartville Stakes this weekend.
“He is forward enough,” Waller said.
“He has had a similar preparation to Winx, who won last week over 1400 in a similar situation, and they have basically been doing the same work and look similar.
“They are not big in condition and they are fit and ready to go.
“The race will obviously bring him on, but at the same time he is ready to win.
Press Statement is set to press on to the Group 1 Royal Randwick Guineas (1600m) on March 5, the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 19, 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, but Waller is already looking forward to an overseas tilt with the three-year-old.
Waller said that he would love to take Press Statement to Royal Ascot and he thinks that the Hobartville Stakes is a good test to see whether the colt would be able to fire in a race like the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1207m).
“I think for any horse that is a colt it is high on the list once you have ticked off the box with a couple of Group 1s in Australia,” Waller said.
“You can double their value by going to Europe for the other hemisphere to get their breeding rights up there.
“It is certainly on our radar and tomorrow for me is a bit of an indication if he could be competitive up the straight over the Ascot straight first-up.
“It is probably similar to a Rosehill 1400.”
Press Statement is currently available at 2016 Hobartville Stakes odds of $2.15 with Ladbrokes and is a dominant favourite from Spill The Beans ($5.50), Vanbrugh ($11), Montaigne ($11), Wolf Cry ($13), Dal Cielo ($14) and Shards ($15).
