Press Statement Dominant Royal Randwick Guineas Favourite

Press Statement is currently available at 2016 Royal Randwick Guineas odds of $1.50 and is set to start as one of the shortest-priced favourites in the history of the Group 1 event.

Press Statement has the chance to record a third win at Group 1 level in the Royal Randwick Guineas. Photo by: Steve Hart

Press Statement has the chance to record a third win at Group 1 level in the Royal Randwick Guineas. Photo by: Steve Hart

Press Statement finished his 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with strong wins in the Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on September 26 and the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 10 before he returned to the races with a very comfortable victory in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on February 20.

The son of Hinchinbrook will start from barrier 12 in the Royal Randwick Guineas, but Waller is confident the wide draw will not be an issue for a four-year-old and he is confident he can claim his third Group 1 victory this weekend.

“It is a good start over a mile at Randwick and you don’t need to panic,” Waller said.

“He has a good jockey aboard and he will get him to switch off wherever he is in the field.

“His work has been good, he worked with Marenostro and they worked well within themselves.”

No odds-on favourite has lost the Royal Randwick Guineas in the last thirty years and Ilovethiscity (2011), Weekend Hussler (2008), Octagonal (1996), Tidal Light (1987) and Mcginty (1983) all won the race as odds-on pops.

Stay With Me is the only other Australian Group 1 winner in the Royal Randwick Guineas field and she is on the second line of betting at a quote of $7.50 with Ladbrokes.

The talented filly showed her quality with her impressive victory in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) and she has found the line strongly in both the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on February 13 and the Group 2 Surround Stakes (1400m) at the same venue on February 27.

The only other horse that is currently available at single figure 2016 Royal Randwick Guineas odds is Montaigne, who has drifted from $8.50 out to $9.50 since the final field was released.

Montaigne recorded impressive wins in the More Than Just Winning Maiden (1400m) at Warwick Farm on January 20 and the Colin Tidy Tribute Handicap (1600m) at Royal Randwick on February 6 before he hit the line strongly to finish third behind Press Statement and Le Romain in the Hobartville Stakes.

Le Romain ($18 into $14) and Balmain Boy ($81 into $51) have been two of the best-backed runners in the 2016 Royal Randwick Guineas betting market, while Etymology ($34 out to $61), Man Of Choice ($41 out to $51) and Data Point ($31 out to $51) have all been on the drift.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.