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It wasn’t the way Hugh Bowman had expected Press Statement to win, but the jockey was thankful for the colt’s class edge making a difference in the $1 million Caulfield Guineas.
Bowman abandoned a plan to ride Press Statement from behind when the three-year-old jumped brilliantly from a wide barrier.
The Sydney jockey urged Press Statement, the $2.50 favourite, further forward when the three-year-old was momentarily trapped wide.
He soon took up the running and Press Statement was never headed in beating Lizard Island ($19) with Ready For Victory ($11) taking the minor placing.
“It wasn’t the plan (to lead) … but this is a serious colt and I rode him like the best horse in the race,” Bowman said.
“Even though I had to ride him out of his comfort zone, his class came to fruition.
“He’s a star in the making, there’s no doubt about that.”
The win gave Bowman and Chris Waller their third Group One win in seven days after they combined with Winx in the Epsom Handicap and Preferment in the Turnbull Stakes.
Press Statement firmed from $15 to $9 to win the Cox Plate but Waller said he wouldn’t be rushed into a decision about running in the $3.5 million weight-for-age race at Moonee Valley.
“It might be a case of coming back next year and trying to win it,” Waller said.
Sold earlier this year as a stud prospect, Press Statement’s value has soared even further in a race that traditionally unearths future stallions.
Press Statement has now won five of his seven starts with his earnings going past $1.2 million.
Lizard Island came from midfield on the rails and never left the inside in finishing second while Ready For Victory followed the winner throughout after taking a sit in the early stages.
In Victoria Derby markets, Tarzino has shot to the top of betting with Saturday’s Spring Champion Stakes winner Vanbrugh at $5 after he ran on from a long way back to finish on the heels of the Guineas placegetters. – AAP TURF