The gap between a Randwick Stakes race and an Avoca maiden is as wide as the Sydney Heads but Press Statement produced two very promising horses at those venues on Saturday.
His Chris Waller-trained filly Roots was enormous running second in the Reginald Allen Stakes (LR, 1400m) an hour after I Am News destroyed his rivals in the Avoca Caravan Park Plate (1300m).
Roots (3f Press Statement – Arctic Success by Big Brown) had won a Goulburn maiden on debut last month and wasn’t overawed in the big league at Headquarters. She was a clear last at the half-mile and stewards reported she became unbalanced in restricted room before finishing strongly between runners to get within a half-length of stablemate Fangirl.
“She was unlucky not to win on Saturday and has pulled up really well,” assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth reported. “She’s very talented with a bright future ahead and will be a better filly next prep. We will give her another start to bring on her education and there are plenty of options.
“Chris will lock in a target once we see nominations for races during Cup week in Sydney and Melbourne.”
The Reginald Allen has been a reliable launching pad for fillies since the 1950s. Last year’s winner Forbidden Love (All Too Hard) went on to claim a Group 1 in the Surround Stakes back at Randwick in February.
Roots was bred by Vinery partner Greg Perry and is from a half-sister to Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes winner Polar Success. She cost Japanese buyer Kinya Murakami $52,000 from Vinery (as agent) at the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
I Am News opened his account in the carefree surrounds of an Avoca Cup meeting better known for its award-winning hospitality than high-class horseflesh. COVID meant no crowd this year but a low-key meet suited the big horse’s connections. “We went up there to get his maiden out of the way,” managing part-owner Rob Slade said. “Now it’s onwards and upwards. He had been trialling terrific and it was a dominant win. He was odds-on and deserved to be because it was a poor field.”
Trained by Brent Stanley and racing in the colours made famous by Alinghi, he was bred and sold by Baramul Stud for $28,000 at the 2018 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale. “I bought him as a foal at the Gold Coast,” Slade recalled. “He was held back by bone chips and this is his first real prep. We gave him a couple of starts last year and he was racing first-up for ten months at Avoca.
“He’s always shown ability and we think he will develop into a Saturday horse over more ground.”
I Am News (4g Press Statement – Red Chilli Peppers by Hussonet) is the 14th individual winner by Press Statement this season. He’s Top 5 on the third-crop winners’ premiership behind fellow Vinery sire Headwater (22).
Vinery stands Press Statement for a $13,750 (inc GST) service fee with payment on a live foal. For bookings or further information, please contact Adam White (0414 800 918) or Harry Roach (0401 970 006).
ROOTS
Press Statement filly (rails) finishes second in Reginald Allen Hcp