An easy barrier trial at Rosehill today has two year old Group 1 winner Press Statement on track for his early Spring Carnival goal, the Group 1 $1m De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on September 12.
Press Statement is on track for his early Spring Carnival goal, the Golden Rose Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Press Statement wasn’t pushed out when third to the unraced Deploy from the Gerald Ryan stable and the Team Hawkes trained Headwater in a 900m three year old trial.
Trainer Chris Waller is also eyeing off the Group 1 $500,000 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on October 31 with the new season three year old.
Waller has trained the winners of the last two Coolmore Stud Stakes on Derby Day at Flemington with Zoustar (2013) and Brazen Beau (2014) and said that he would have no problem bringing Press Statement back to the 1200m from the 1400m of the Golden Rose Stakes.
“We’ve had success in the Coolmore Stud Stakes for the past two years so I think that’s where he will probably go,” Waller told AAP.
Waller has been happy with the progress of Press Statement since he returned to the stable after spelling following his win in the Group 1 $600,000 BMW Australia J.J. Atkins (1600m) at Doomben on June 6 to keep his unbeaten record intact.
Press Statement is undefeated from three race starts and after winning on debut over 1100m at Canterbury on April 29 lead all of the way to win over 1350m in a two year old Handicap at Rosehill on May 30 before heading to Brisbane.
Waller has picked out the Group 2 $175,000 The Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill on August 29 for Press Statement’s return but knows he will be lumped with plenty of weight.
“The plan is to go to the Run To The Rose two weeks before the Golden Rose,” Waller said.
“The only problem is that as a Group One winner he gets a four kilo penalty and has to carry 60 kilograms.
“But there’s not another suitable race for him leading into the Golden Rose.”
Waller also had plenty of other big name horses at the Rosehill barrier trials with Royal Decent scoring an impressive win in the opening heat while multiple Group 1 winner Boban had an easy trial to run third to Heart Testa and Bounding in an 900m Open Trial.
Press Statement is well up the market order at $13 with Exosphere and Mogador for the Golden Rose Stakes with Ladbrokes.com.au.
The Gai Waterhouse trained Golden Slipper winner Vancouver heads the betting at $3.20 ahead of Blue Diamond Stakes winner Pride Of Dubai at $8.
