As expected, the Press Statements are emerging in force this season and the winner-count will continue to rise on the back of promising colts like El Santo.
The Ballarat-based galloper overcame the visitor’s draw at his first trip away from home at Swan Hill on Friday. With Johnny Allan aboard, he landed in the running line near the lead and got first run in the straight to defeat the favourite Riace by a length.
El Santo (3c Press Statement – Lucha Libre by Pins) was untried at two and was stepping up to 1600m for the first time in the Madison Lloyd Maiden Plate. “There’s a lot of upside to this colt. We think will keep improving with experience and age,” trainer Dan O’Sullivan said. “Another job well done from our team on the road and what a fantastic ride.
“Johnny took over from Will (Price) who had to stay home and attend Apprentice School via Zoom.”
El Santo was bred and sold by Rushton Park for $36,000 at the 2019 Adelaide Magic Millions. His dam Lucha Libre won a South Pacific Classic LR at Randwick and second-dam Libre (Grosvenor) is a half-sister to NZ Railway Hcp Gr.1 winner Ensign Ewart.
Rushton Park’s David & Kayley Johnson are based at Tatura and they sold a first-crop Star Turn filly for $110,000 at this year’s Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale. The Vinery sire got her from Garden of Eden (Blackfriars) and she will be trained by Andrew Noblet for Carbine Thoroughbreds.
Press Statement (Hinchinbrook) stands at Vinery for a $13,750 fee (inc GST) payable on a live foal.
