Caulfield Guineas winner Press Statement looks set to bypass ‘The Championships’ with connections preferring to take on the Group 1 $600,000 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on April 16.
Caulfield Guineas winner Press Statement will be aimed towards the All Aged Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
The two days of ‘The Championships’ at Randwick are on April 2 and April 9 with the weight for age All Aged Stakes run the following week.
Vinery Stud head the ownership of Press Statement and general manager Peter Orton is thinking to the future for the dual Group 1 winner which could evolve into a northern hemisphere campaign before beginning a career as a stallion.
Orton considers the All Aged Stakes as a stallion making race with recent winners All Too Hard (2013) and Dissident (2015) currently establishing themselves on the breeding scene.
“We have mapped out a program of five runs ending in the All Aged Stakes, which year in and year out has proven itself one of the best races on the calendar,” Orton told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“I personally think the 1400m at Randwick is best test for what Australians look for in a stallion, speed and stamina.”
“It has a great record of producing champion winners and is a most underrated race in terms of prizemoney, but not what it can do for a stallion.”
“The Doncaster doesn’t have the same special appeal to us.”
The Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick is run on day one of ‘The Championships’ and is regarded as one of the great ‘Mile’ races on the Australian Racing Calendar.
Even though Press Statement’s two Group 1 victories have been over the ‘Mile’ with wins in the $600,000 BMW Australia J.J. Atkins at Doomben as a two year old during the 2015 Brisbane Winter Carnival followed by a win as a three year old in the $1m BECK Caulfield Guineas at Caulfield during the Melbourne Spring Carnival, Orton thinks the 1400m of the All Aged Stakes will be suit the Hinchinbrook colt.
“We think Press Statement will be that little bit sharper with maturity this time, so he will go to the Randwick Guineas and George Ryder Stakes before the All Aged Stakes. We will put in a nomination for the Doncaster but only as a safeguard. There is always the thought of Europe as well if everything goes to plan.”
Champion Sydney trained Chris Waller has Press Statement well into his Autumn Carnival preparation with an easy barrier trial third already under his belt on January 12.
The Group 3 $150,000 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on February 6 will be Press Statement’s Autumn Carnival pipe opener followed by the Group 2 $400,000 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill a fortnight later.
The Group 1 $600,000 Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Randwick on March 5 and then the Group 1 $1m George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on March 19 will lead Press Statement into the All Aged Stakes.
