The gap between a Randwick Stakes race and an Avoca maiden is as wide as the Sydney Heads but Press Statement produced two very promising horses at those venues on Saturday.
His Chris Waller-trained filly Roots was enormous running second in the Reginald Allen Stakes (LR, 1400m) an hour after I Am News destroyed his rivals in the Avoca Caravan Park Plate (1300m).
Roots (3f Press Statement – Arctic Success by Big Brown) had won a Goulburn maiden on debut last month and wasn’t overawed in the big league at Headquarters. She was a clear last at the half-mile and stewards reported she became unbalanced in restricted room before finishing strongly between runners to get within a half-length of stablemate Fangirl.
“She was unlucky not to win on Saturday and has pulled up really well,” assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth reported. “She’s very talented with a bright future ahead and will be a better filly next prep. We will give her another start to bring on her education and there are plenty of options.
“Chris will lock in a target once we see nominations for races during Cup week in Sydney and Melbourne.”
The Reginald Allen has been a reliable launching pad for fillies since the 1950s. Last year’s winner Forbidden Love (All Too Hard) went on to claim a Group 1 in the Surround Stakes back at Randwick in February.
Roots was bred by Vinery partner Greg Perry and is from a half-sister to Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes winner Polar Success. She cost Japanese buyer Kinya Murakami $52,000 from Vinery (as agent) at the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
I Am News opened his account in the carefree surrounds of an Avoca Cup meeting better known for its award-winning hospitality than high-class horseflesh. COVID meant no crowd this year but a low-key meet suited the big horse’s connections. “We went up there to get his maiden out of the way,” managing part-owner Rob Slade said. “Now it’s onwards and upwards. He had been trialling terrific and it was a dominant win. He was odds-on and deserved to be because it was a poor field.”
Trained by Brent Stanley and racing in the colours made famous by Alinghi, he was bred and sold by Baramul Stud for $28,000 at the 2018 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale. “I bought him as a foal at the Gold Coast,” Slade recalled. “He was held back by bone chips and this is his first real prep. We gave him a couple of starts last year and he was racing first-up for ten months at Avoca.
“He’s always shown ability and we think he will develop into a Saturday horse over more ground.”
I Am News (4g Press Statement – Red Chilli Peppers by Hussonet) is the 14th individual winner by Press Statement this season. He’s Top 5 on the third-crop winners’ premiership behind fellow Vinery sire Headwater (22).
Vinery stands Press Statement for a $13,750 (inc GST) service fee with payment on a live foal. For bookings or further information, please contact Adam White (0414 800 918) or Harry Roach (0401 970 006).
