Press Statement’s 3yo filly Roots faces the biggest test of her short career in the Phar Lap Stakes (Gr.2, 1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Her Chris Waller-trained stablemate Fangirl (Sebring) has opened a $1.80 favourite ahead of Roots on the second line at $5.50.
Vinery partner Greg Perry bred Roots and Artorius (Flying Artie) who is one of the leading chances for the Newmarket Hcp (Gr.1, 1200m) at Flemington tomorrow. Offered through Vinery (as agent) at the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Roots made $52,000 to the bid of Kinya Murakami and he sold a significant share in the filly to agent Sheamus Mills this week.
Mills was acting for clients Heath Newton and Anthony Roberts and she will now race in their navy blue and gold colours. “I thought she should have beaten Fangirl in the (LR) Reginald Allen last prep,” Mills told ANZ Bloodstock’s Tim Rowe. “And then Fangirl went to Melbourne and won the (Gr.3) Carbine Club at Flemington
“I started to think maybe she was a bit better than I initially thought. Then Fangirl won the (Gr.2) Light Fingers first-up and Roots was super impressive winning at Warwick Farm against older horses.”
Roots has a tentative Group 1 target in the $500,000 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville on April 30 and her residual value will shape spring goals as a 4yo mare next season.
She is a daughter of Vinery sire Press Statement and her dam Arctic Success (Big Brown) has a Star Turn colt entered as Lot 54 from Vinery (as agent) to the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. The mare foaled a colt by Exceedance at Vinery in November.
Press Statement is coming off another successful week with Free Foal (Hong Kong) on Sunday and Time Scale (Perth) on Wednesday.
Free Foal (4g Press Statement – Games by Lonhro) won the Oncidium Hcp (1600m) at Sha Tin to provide trainer Frankie Lor with his 50th win of the season. He’s one of three Press Statement winners in Hong Kong and they have been joined by unbeaten NZ 3yo Scribe who was sold to clients of David Hayes in January.
Time Scale (4m Press Statement – Before the Present by Hussonet) made two sprints and was still strong through the line in the TABtouch Hcp (1400m) at Ascot. Starting a $3 favourite, she rushed around the field to sit outside the leader after a furlong and then kicked again to establish a winning margin in the straight.
The Simon Miller-trainee broke her maiden as a spring 3yo at Northam and Wednesday’s victory was her fourth in town for a syndicate that includes Ray Meadowcroft, Jason Carone, Xavier Franklin and Digby Beacham. “She has been a bit frustrating but is so much more mature this prep,” stable rep Kelly Kinninmont said. “She had a tendency to overdo it and now we’re seeing her settle better.”
Miller bought Time Scale as a foal for $37,500 at the 2018 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale from Hillside Thoroughbreds. The Nagambie nursery is owned by Peter Arvanitis and he bred her from an unraced half-sister to Silver Slipper Gr.2 winner Domesday (Red Ransom).
Press Statement has 13 yearlings catalogued for the Adelaide Magic Millions starting next Tuesday, March 15. Among the Day 1 entrants is the filly from Lady Of Prospect (Lot 196) being offered by Glenn Lee Thoroughbreds (as agent) for Vinery’s broodmare manager John Tiyce.
Lady Of Prospect (Onemorenomare) is an unraced half-sister to Group 1 winner Begood Toya Mother (MRC Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes) who was bred by former Vinery team members Mark and Melissa Nevin.
