Scribe has strength to spare and that helped him split runners in the straight to maintain a perfect scorecard at Te Rapa on Saturday.

The 3yo son of Vinery sire Press Statement had won first-up at New Plymouth last month but was expected to find the Wentwood Grange Stakes (1200m) a wee bit stronger at Te Rapa.  Scribe responded to the challenge and shouldered out of a pocket for Leith Innes to score by two lengths from odds-on favourite On The Bubbles (Brazen Beau).

“He had won a Matamata trial and worked well leading up to New Plymouth,” trainer Tony Pike recalled.  “But we thought 1100m may have been a bit short.”  The stable’s race options were slim so they went ahead and Scribe put their reservations to rest with an all-the-way victory on debut.

“He came though that run very well and the extra distance only helped second-up,” Pike said on Saturday.  “He was a gorgeous-looking yearling but got a bit colty so we had him gelded.   He’s a lovely horse to have around the stable and is very promising.

“He’s a Karaka Million horse so we will progress to the Mile and maybe the Wellington Guineas along the way.”  .

Bred and sold by Vinery Stud for $50,000 at the 2019 Inglis Foal Sale, Scribe was pin-hooked by Carlaw Park’s Nick Fairweather and increased in value to $160,000 at the 2020 NZB Yearling Sale.  Pike bought him for a syndicate that includes Brisbane-based Noel Greenhalgh, Haunui Farm, Raffles Racing, Waikato Stud & Whakanui Stud

Fairweather had earlier pin-hooked Toomuchtobear (Press Statement) as a foal and made another profit at the 2019 NZB Yearling Sale.  He has won three of his last four starts for Chris Waller and Greenhalgh.

Scribe’s dam Convene (Zizou) is a half-sister to Headway (VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes Gr.1) and a full-sister to the dam of Let Me Sleep On It (MRC Redoute’s Choice Stakes LR).  She has a yearling filly by Headwater and another Press Statement colt foaled in October.

Fairweather went back and pin-hooked the Headwater filly for $30,000 at this year’s Inglis Foal Sale and she has been catalogued as Lot 108 by Carlaw Park during Day 1 of 2022 NZB Yearling Sale on March 7.

The Press Statement – Zizou cross is also responsible for promising filly Paper Daisy who won on debut at Kembla Grange in February and doubled up there in October.  “She chills out and really puts it together,” trainer Joe Pride said.  “She still has plenty to learn and looks to have a bright future.”