The Chris Waller-trained Toomuchtobear has highlighted a day to remember for Vinery sire Press Statement at Randwick.

Press Statement was Australia’s winningest sire on Saturday with five winners at TAB tracks around the nation led by Toomuchtobear who arrived late to land the Precise Air Hcp (2000m).  Winning jockey Jason Collett produced a perfectly-timed ride to win by a nose from stablemate Desert Icon (Fr).

“He’s pretty raw and I would imagine he wants even further,” stable foreman Charlie Duckworth said.  “I don’t know exactly what the boss has in store but he’s definitely above Saturday grade.”

Waller prepared Press Statement during a Group 1-winning career and he’s on record as saying Toomuchtobear is “going places”.  The Parramatta Cup (LR, 1900m) looks a likely target at Rosehill on February 19.

He bought Toomuchtobear for $120,000 from Carlaw Park at the 2019 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale on behalf of a large syndicate that includes leading clients Nev Greenhalgh and Peter Tighe.  His dam Bearish (High Chaparral) won three races in Victoria and is closely related to NZ Group 2 winners Waikiki and Puttanesca.

Press Statement had doubled up earlier in the week with Confessed and Riva Del Sol at Wyong.  The latter completed a winning hat-trick for trainer Con Karakatsanis on Tuesday.

Saturday could have also been a winning one in New Zealand for Press Statement with his unbeaten gelding Scribe.  The Tony Pike trainee was pre-post favourite for the Karaka Million 3yo Classic (LR, 1600m) but was purchased by Hong Kong clients of David Hayes after wins at New Plymouth and Te Rapa.

Scribe won’t be long adding his name to Press Statement winners like Hurry Hurry Gain, Free Foal and Steel Win in Hong Kong.   “You never like losing good horses but obviously the offer was substantial,” Pike said.  “Being a gelding and the business model that we run, we decided that we would accept the offer and move on.”

Vinery initially sold Scribe for $50,000 at the 2019 Inglis Foal Sale.  He was pin-hooked by Carlaw Park’s Nick Fairweather and increased in value to $160,000 at the 2020 NZB Yearling Sale.

Press Statement has two fillies being prepped by Vinery for the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale that commences on Sunday, February 6 at Riverside Stables.  First to parade is from Spoils (Lot 264) and the filly out of Amberino (Lot 377) is a full-sister to last-start Rosehill winner Oakfield Arrow.