The 2014 Silver Shadow Stakes odds of Press Report have lengthened since betting opened on Wednesday, but trainer Lee Curtis is confident that his star filly will run well in the Group 2 event at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Glyn Schofield has been booked to ride Press Report in the Silver Shadow Stakes at Royal Randwick this weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Press Report opened at a quote of $17 in Silver Shadow Stakes betting markets, but she is now out to $19; with Peter Moody-trained Bring Me The Maid ($3.50) receiving all the betting support in the lead-up to the $175,000 race.
The Written Tycoon filly was sent to the spelling paddock after she finished seventh in the Group 2 Magic Night Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 29 and she has performed well since returning to the races; finishing an unlucky fourth in the Inglis $5 Million Race Series Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on July 19 before winning the Early Quaddie Plate (1300m) on protest at the same venue on August 2.
Curtis believes that Press Report has returned to the races as a much more mature horse and he is happy with the condition of the three-year-old heading into the Silver Shadow Stakes this weekend.
“Last prep she was just putting it together and my plan this time was to just get her in a little bit earlier and give her a run or two, so she would be a bit more seasoned education wise to take on this better company,” Curtis said.
“I think it was a career best performance; she jumped and put herself in the race and she looked more like a normal race horse.
“She was getting lost a bit.
“I think that she deserved to get it, I may be bias, but if you go on the rules of racing I was happy for her to get it.”
Winona Costin partnered Press Report in the Early Quaddie Plate, but Glyn Schofield is set to ride the promising filly in the Silver Shadow Stakes tomorrow, while he does not believe that the heavy Royal Randwick track will be a problem.
Schofield partnered Press Report in the first five starts of her racing career and Curtis said that he is happy to have the veteran hoop back on board his star galloper.
“He has been involved from the start and he has ridden her in all her starts bar one,” Curtis said.
“He was working with me with her when she was a bit immature and she certaintly knows her.
“Glyn and her have a good record together.
“Obviously all trainers would be wanting it a bit better, but I am not worried about the going.”
Earthquake ($1.90) remains a clear favourite in 2014 Silver Shadow betting markets, but Godolphin revealed this morning that she is unlikely to take her place in the field.
