The 2016 Royal Randwick Guineas nominations have been released and Press Statement is the clear standout in the initial entries for the Group 1 event.
Press Statement is set to start the 2016 Royal Randwick Guineas as a clear favourite. Photo by: Steve Hart
Press Statement made his racing debut with a surprise win in the Place Multi Handicap (1100m) at Canterbury on April 29 and since that time he has gone on to record six wins from just eight race starts.
The son of Hinchinbrook recorded his maiden win at Group 1 level in the JJ Atkins at Doomben on June 6 in just his third race start and he was set for both the Golden Rose Stakes as well as the Caulfield Guineas during the spring.
Press Statement started his spring preparation with a solid second behind Exosphere in the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 29 and he had no luck in running in the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at the same venue on September 12 before he returned to winning form in the Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) on September 26 and claimed a second Group 1 victory in the Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 10.
He showed that he was ready to return to the races with two solid barrier trial performances at Royal Randwick on January 12 as well as Warwick Farm on January 25 and he justified the heavy support in betting to record a comfortable victory in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on February 20.
The Hobartville Stakes is always the key lead-up to the Royal Randwick Guineas and that is set to be the case again in 2015.
Le Romain and Montaigne both chased Press Statement home in the Hobartville Stakes and they are set to back-up in the Royal Randwick Guineas, while the likes of Dal Cielo, Balmain Boy, Etymology, Vanbrugh and Shards will all have the chance to turn-the-tables on their talented rival this weekend.
One of the most interesting horses in the 2016 Royal Randwick Guineas is talented filly Stay With Me, who could be given the chance to record a second victory at Group 1 level.
Stay With Me stamped herself as one of the most valuable fillies in the country when she took out the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 10 and she has performed well without winning this preparation.
The Street Cry filly was never able to get into the race when she finished fifth in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on February 13 and she made up good ground late in the Group 2 Surround Stakes (1400m) at the same venue on Saturday.
Data Point, Gold Ambition, Risque, Sacred Eye, Sovereign Nation, Tivaci and Tulsa are among the other horses that have been included in the 2016 Royal Randwick Guineas.
