2015 Golden Slipper winner Vancouver has been sent to the spelling paddock and will not have another race start during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival.
Vancouver will not race again during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival. Photo by: Steve Hart
James Bester from Coolmore revealed last week that Vancouver would miss the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday in order to concentrate on the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) in Melbourne, but trainer Gai Waterhouse told Racing New South Wales this morning that the three-year-old would be spelled.
There was a great deal expected of Vancouver ahead of the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival after he recorded four wins from as many race starts as a two-year-old, but the son of Medaglia D’Oro was outsprinted when he was asked for an extra effort in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 15 and he could finish no better than fourth.
Waterhouse opted not to run Vancouver in the Group 2 The Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 29 and she instead opted to give him a barrier trial at Rosehill Gardens on September 1, but the colt was unable to respond when asked for an extra effort by jockey Tommy Berry and he tired late to finish third behind Slate On Edge and Sons Of John.
Vancouver was purchased for $185,000 at the 2014 Gold Magic Millions Yearling Sale and he justified that investment when he made his racing debut with an upset victory over Sooboog in the Listed New South Wales Thoroughbred Breeders’ Plate (1000m) at Royal Randwick on October 4 and he started his autumn campaign with a tough win in the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on January 31.
The valuable colt went into the Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on March 7 on the third line of betting, but he exploded in the final stages of the race to record a most impressive victory and he completed a flawless two-year-old season when he beat stablemate English to take out the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 21.
Press Statement is now on top of Caulfield Guineas betting markets with Ladbrokes at a quote of $4.80 and is narrow favourite from Mick Price-trained Ready For Victory ($5.50) and Godolphin-owned Exosphere ($10).
