Press Statement mare Roots earned a return to black-type company after a walk in the park at Canterbury Park on Wednesday.
Starting a long odds-on favourite, Roots trounced a midweek field of Fillies & Mares over 1550m and will now be set for the Angst Stakes (Gr.3, 1600m) at Randwick on October 8. The Chris Waller-trainee was spotting front-runner Starstruck Barbie (Star Turn) several lengths in the straight before letting down for a dominant victory.
“The pace was stronger than I anticipated,” jockey James McDonald admitted. “They got away down the back and it took a while for her to tack up. But she’s Group-class with a tremendous turn of foot and it felt like stealing money when we ran away from them.”
Roots earned her first black-type when runner-up to stablemate Fangirl in the Reginald Allen Hcp (LR, 1400m) at Randwick twelve months ago. The winner franked that form with a Group 1 triumph in the Vinery Stud Stakes (1850m) in March.
Sydney’s heavy tracks during the autumn carnival were not as kind to Roots in a Group 3 (Phar Lap Stakes) and Group 2 (Adrian Knox Stakes) before a third unplaced effort in the Group 1 Australasian Oaks in Adelaide.
“She strengthened right up during a winter spell and was very impressive first-up at Warwick Farm last month,” assistant-trainer Charlie Duckworth reported after she made it two-from-two this season. “She did it with relative ease today and the longer distance plus bigger track in the Angst Stakes will help at Randwick.”
Roots, who also holds a nomination for the $10million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill on October 29, was bred and sold for $52,000 by Vinery partner Greg Perry through Vinery (as agent) at the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. She is raced by Kinya Murakami, Sheamus Mills, Heath Newton and Anthony Roberts.
Press Statement sired her from Arctic Success (Big Brown) who is a half-sister to 2003 Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr.1, 1200m) winner Polar Success. The mare has a 2yo colt by Star Turn and a yearling colt by Exceedance.
Roots is one of a dozen individual Australian winners by Press Statement this season and his Hong Kong expats are knocking on the door after Packing Famous flew home for an eye-catching second at Happy Valley on Wednesday evening.
The David Hayes-trained Naboo Legend is primed for his debut following a sparkling 1200m trial win under Zac Purton on Saturday. The HKJC website report was succinct: “Led all the way to score. Ready to go.” Naboo Legend was purchased from New Zealand after winning two-from-two when racing as Scribe.
Vinery stands Press Statement for a service fee of $8,800 (inc GST). For bookings or further information, please contact Adam White (0414 800 918) or Harry Roach (0401 970 006).
