Group 1 winning colt Press Statement has been retired to serve his first book at Vinery Stud later this year.
He left Chris Waller’s stable on Tuesday as the first Australian Group 1 winning 2YO and 3YO to go to stud since 2013. “There’s no other horse in the country with those credentials,” Vinery’s general manager Peter Orton said. “He is right up there as the Hunter Valley’s most desirable first-season stallion.”
Press Statement (3c Hinchinbrook – Kaaptive Empress by Kaaptive Edition) was unbeaten as a two year-old winning at Canterbury and Rosehill before travelling interstate for the G1 J J Atkins Stakes (1600m) in Brisbane.
He travelled comfortably at Doomben before unleashing a swift burst of acceleration that had Waller looking to the future. “He won that easily,” Waller said after the Atkins. “I trained Zoustar and Brazen Beau and they both ran second in this race. I believe Press Statement is a better horse than they were at the same stage and he fits the mould of a super-star colt.”
Press Statement returned after a quick break in the spring to win the G2 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill before stamping his authority over Australia’s best three year-olds in the G1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m).
Drawn wide, Press Statement was given no favours in the stallion-making classic. On a day when the bias favoured back-markers, he crossed and controlled the race with powerful front-running victory.
“The plan was to go back and get some cover,” Waller said. “But he’s a good horse and just needed to stay out of trouble which probably sounds a bit arrogant. I remember Lonhro coming from last to win a Caulfield Guineas so I guess good horses break the trend.”
Press Statement resumed this year with a decisive victory over Le Romain in the G2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) but was pocketed at a critical stage next time out when going down a half-neck to the same horse in the G1 Randwick Guineas (1600m).
He followed up with a placing behind Doncaster Hcp winners Winx and Kermadec in the G1 George Ryder WFA and was then posted three and four wide when bowing out in the G1 All-Aged Stakes on Saturday.
“Our options included Royal Ascot or returning to Brisbane for the winter carnival,” Orton explained. “He could have also spelled for the spring but we decided it made more sense to retire him now.”
Press Statement is by Snitzel’s three-quarter brother Hinchinbrook (Fastnet Rock) who was crowned Champion Australian first-season sire in 2014-15. He’s a younger half-brother to Pressday who won the 2010 edition of the G1 J J Atkins Stakes.
Vinery will announce a service fee for Press Statement when releasing its 2016 roster later this week.
