Trainer Joe Cleary will head straight to town with his flying filly Alpine Lady on the back of her precocious victory at Queanbeyan on Monday.
The 2yo daughter of Vinery sire Press Statement hit the ground running and was never seriously challenged in the Mossy Cafe Hcp (1000m). A mere reminder from jockey Jess Taylor at the furlong kept Alpine Lady focused as she cleared out to score by four lengths from Serafima (Russian Revolution).
Eased down on a Soft 5, the runaway victory reflected Cleary’s confidence after a debut second against older mares in a Wagga maiden on April 10. “She’s a very nice filly and I’m looking at a Saturday race over 1100m at Rosehill on July 30,” Cleary said. “Win, lose or draw, she will go for a spell and come back for a late spring, summer prep.”
Alpine Lady is a homebred for Craig and Darren Sessarago and they’re partners in a syndicate of family and friends. Her dam Swiss Alps (Scenic) won four races on the Gold Coast and has been a consistent producer for them at stud.
“Craig and Darren have been with me a long time and they raced the filly’s older half-brother Rothenburg. He won a Rosehill Highway but we lost him last year. They’re the breaks in racing and hopefully this one can compensate next season.”
Swiss Alps also has a yearling filly by Headwater named Ocean Alps. “She was going to be trained by Michael Costa but that’s up in the air now that he’s gone to Dubai,” Cleary revealed. “A lot of the owners live on the Gold Coast so she will probably stay up there. I don’t want to step on any toes but I would be only too happy if they want to send her down here.”
Cleary operates a successful stable at Moruya after a lifetime in racing that started as a knee-high nipper with his Group 1-winning trainer-father Frank Cleary. Craig and Darren Sessarago are also old-hands in the business as is their association with Vinery.
Among their early winners foaled at Vinery was Myboycharlie (Ire) mare Madame De Ban. She won a Rosehill Highway for Matty Dunn and Hugh Bowman on the 2016 Australian Day weekend after firming into a $3 favourite.
Press Statement (Hinchinbrook) is better known for siring maturing 3yo winners but he can get them to go early, too. Apart from Alpine Lady, his 2yo winners this season include leading earner Sneaky Starter ($353,000) and the promising Adam Campton-trained filly Catwalk Criminal who began her career with Michael Costa.
Press Statement’s last-start Canterbury winner Tawfiq Lass can double-up in the China Horse Club Hcp (1400m) at Rosehill this Saturday. The Kris Lees-trained mare accelerated late under Jason Collett to win her fifth race for Australian Bloodstock and she’s ready to kick another goal for her syndicate and breeders Brian and Sandra Elliott.
Tawfiq Lass is a first-crop daughter of Press Statement and her dam Tawfiq Valley (Purrealist) is a half-sister to Mutate (Octagonal) who won up to 1700m at Flemington and 2040m at Stakes level in Adelaide.
Vinery stands Press Statement for an $8,800 (inc GST) service fee. For bookings or further information, please contact Adam White (0414 800 918) or Harry Roach (0401 970 006).
