Trainer Chris Waller has confirmed that Press Statement will remain in Sydney for the 2015 Stan Fox Stakes and will not contest the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Press Statement has the chance to return to winning form when he contests the 2015 Stan Fox Stakes. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Press Statement stamped himself as a Caulfield Guineas contender when he took out the Group 1 J.J. Atkins (1600m) at Doomben during the 2015 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival and he started his spring campaign with a good second behind Exosphere in the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 29 before he had no luck whatsoever when in the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on September 12.
Waller had the option of giving Press Statement a run in Melbourne before he returns to Group 1 level for the Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 10, but he told AAP that the conditions of the Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday suited the Hinchinbrook colt better.
“The set weights suit Press Statement better in the Stan Fox because he is a Group One winner,” Waller said.
“Hugh Bowman will ride him and he will go to the Caulfield Guineas after that.”
Tye Angland has ridden Press Statement in all five of his race starts to date, but Bowman will take the ride on the three-year-old in the Stan Fox Stakes and could stick with him for the Caulfield Guineas.
Angland was criticised in some quarters for his ride on Press Statement in the Golden Rose, but Waller said that he was not unhappy with the talented hoop and confirmed that he would get other chances during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival.
We are just going to try Hugh on him,” Waller said
“We don’t have stable riders and we are just trying something different.
“Tye will get plenty of other opportunities.”
Waller will still be represented in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude in Melbourne as Ming Dynasty Quality winner Metallic Crown is set to contest the race with Jim Cassidy in the saddle.
The leading trainer has dominated the majority of the major races in New South Wales, but Press Statement is set to be his first ever runner in the Stan Fox Stakes.
Press Statement is currently available at 2015 Stan Fox Stakes odds of $3.60 with Ladbrokes and he is a narrow favourite from Ready For Victory ($4), Bassett ($8), Rageese ($13) and Santa Ana Lane ($13).
