The Chris Waller trained Press Statement was been installed the short priced favourite as soon as the final field was released for the Group 1 $1m BECK Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Press Statement has been installed the short priced favourite for the Caulfield Guineas at Caulfield. Photo by Steve Hart.
Ladbrokes.com.au has posted Press Statement at the short odds of $2.70 even though he drew barrier fourteen in the sixteen horse field plus one emergency.
Press Statement was one of the stars of the Brisbane Winter Carnival with a win in the Group 1 $600,000 BMW Australia J.J. Atkins (1600m) at Doomben and returned to the winner’s stall at his third run back this campaign in the Group 2 $200,000 Dyldam Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on September 26.
The Hinchinbrook colt was then sent to Melbourne to prepare for the Caulfield Guineas and Waller has reported that he has had no trouble handing the reverse way of going.
Waller was on hand at Caulfield on Tuesday morning to watch Press Statement go through his paces and get accustomed to the tricky Caulfield track.
“We do quite a bit of work in Sydney left-handed,” Waller told AAP.
“He would have had three gallops in Sydney before he came down this preparation left-handed.
“He had one at Flemington on Saturday and we brought him here to get him a little bit familiar.”
“I find the good horses are pretty cool, calm and collected and he’s exactly that.”
Hugh Bowman steered Press Statement to an effortless three lengths win in the Stan Fox Stakes and has the job again on Saturday.
Second favourite Ready For Victory will wear the blinkers for the first time and has opened up at $6.50 with the Murray Baker trained Dal Cielo the only other runner under double figures at $9.
Ready For Victory has been sent out as the favourite at his last two starts and trainer Mick Price is hoping the blinkers will do the trick following the three year olds third to Kinglike in the Group 2 $200,000 Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on September 12 and his last start ninth to Bon Aurum in the Group 3 $175,000 BECK Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield on September 26.
Glen Boss takes over from the suspended Damien Oliver and should be able to give Ready For Victory a nice run from barrier four.
Kiwi colt Dal Cielo performed creditably at his first run in Australia when third in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude after setting the pace and Opie Bosson has the option of going forward again from barrier eight.
The Ciaron Maher trained Bon Aurum continues to improve and finished too strong for his rivals to get the judge’s nod in a blanket finish in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude.
Kerrin McEvoy has retained the ride on the Bon Hoffa colt who is at the good odds of $14 just behind the Peter Moody trained Bassett at $13.
Lightly raced colt Tarzino has come in for early support and has shortened up dramatically from an opening quote of $41 to his current price of $12.
Tarzino has drawn nicely at barrier three and Craig Newitt has stuck with him after they combined to win a 1400m Ballarat Maiden on August 27 followed by a win in an $80,000 1600m three year old Handicap at Caulfield on September 19.
Caulfield Guineas market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.70 Press Statement, $6.50 Ready For Victory, $9 Dal Cielo, $12 Tarzino, $13 Bassett, $14 Bon Aurum, $15 Sovereign Nation, Tulsa, $18 Last Bullet, $26 Mr Individual, $31 Lizard Island, $41 Rageese, Snoopy, $51 Shards, $61 Odyssey Moon, $81 Kentucky Flyer, $151 More Than Most.
