Improving Press Statement 3yo Incredulous Dream will be set for black-type on the first Tuesday in November after a powerful victory on Caulfield Cup Day.
The Vinery sire’s grey filly responded to a well-timed Ben Melham ride to win the QMS Media Plate (1400m) by a neck for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace. Despite a six-week break, she was strong through the line to earn a start in the Maybe Mahal Stakes Gr.3 at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.
“Ben did the right thing getting cover and we were confident she could run the distance right out,” Eustace said on Saturday. “We’ve always had a big opinion of her. She’s got a future and will come back a lovely filly next prep.”
Incredulous Dream (3f Press Statement – Incredulous by Keep The Faith) was the top-priced yearling by her sire when making $340,000 at the 2019 Gold Coast Magic Millions. Syndicator Brad Spicer secured her for a partnership that includes Greg Mitchell and Craig Pearce of Princeton Stud.
Bred by Aquis Farm, she is from a winning half-sister to Faith Hill (Emancipation Stakes Gr.2). Second-dam Simply Believe (Kenmare) won stakes races at Moonee Valley and Morphettville.
“I took a trail because it had been a while since her last run at Moonee Valley,” Melham said. “She was a bit fresh on the bridle but stuck her head out right on the line. She feels like a black-type filly and will keep maturing into the autumn.”
Melham completed a Caulfield double on Chica Fuerte in the Ethereal Stakes Gr.3. She’s a daughter of Press Statement’s sire Hinchinbrook.
Press Statement also doubled up on Saturday when He’s The News won the Attwood Marshall Hcp (1200m) at the Gold Coast. He’s two-for-two this season after stepping up from a Maiden to a BM62 for trainer Kelly Schweida and the Last Stride Syndicate.
He’s The News is a half-brother to Stakes winner Better Than Ready and he found the line in the last stride to tick another box on the way to a career in city sprints. “He’s shown me plenty and is still nowhere near his top,” Schweida said after the first-up win earlier this month. “We will go through the grades and see where that takes us.”
The Press Statements are emerging on cue for Vinery. “We expected them to really hit their straps as three year-olds,” General Manager Peter Orton said. “He’s an outstanding individual and now we are seeing his talented stock here and overseas.”
Blake Ryan Racing (as agent) has the only Press Statement (Lot 143) catalogued for the Inglis Ready 2 Race Sale at Riverside Stakes on Tuesday. The colt’s dam Texas Spur (Flying Spur) is a winning relation to Stakes winners Presently (Australia), New Predator (South Africa) and Serene Miss (NZ).
Vinery stands Press Statement for a $13,750 (inc GST) service fee, payable on a live foal. For further information, please contact Adam White (0414 800 918) or Harry Roach (0401 970 006).
