Chris Waller’s gun three-year-old Press Statement has opened top of the all-in All Aged Stakes 2016 betting markets for this weekend’s Royal Randwick feature in Sydney.
Caulfield Guineas winner Press Statement is early favourite to win Saturday’s 2016 All Aged Stakes at Randwick Racecourse. Photo: Steve Hart.
Waller has four weight-for-age hopefuls currently nominated for the $600,000 Group 1 Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m), the favourite of which for Saturday’s major is Press Statement.
The Hinchinbrook colt tops the futures All Aged Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au paying $3.50 to become the third three-year-old to win in five years joining Atlantic Jewel (2012) and All Too Hard (2013).
He has won two-from-three over the 1400m, including the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes first-up at Rosehill in February.
Winner of Melbourne’s Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) during the spring, Press Statement comes off two Group 1 placings in Sydney when runner-up as the beaten odds-on favourite in the Randwick Guineas and his brave third behind star stablemate and subsequent Doncaster Mile champion Winx in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m).
Stepping back in distance is set to suit, and without Winx in the mix to steal the show, Press Statement is well fancied to return to winning form and add to his already impressive $1.82 million in career earnings.
It is a wide open All Aged Stakes betting affair pre-field release with another four single-figure hopes including the $4.40 second pick Malaguerra.
Also nominated for the $150,000 Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) as a Plan B over less distance on Saturday, the four-year-old Lee & Anthony Freedman-trained Magnus gelding is flying and shoots for his fifth win on the trot.
The winning streak dates back to Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington last November and includes back-to-back March wins this autumn.
The latest of those was at Rosehill on March 26 when Malaguerra took out the Group 3 Star Kingdom Stakes (1200m) by one and a quarter lengths.
Following closely in the markets are then Gai Waterhouse’s classy filly English ($4.60), the now Darren Weir-trained Perth expat Black Heart Bart ($5) and Waller’s other big name entry Kermadec ($6.50).
One of two fillies nominated for the All Aged Stakes this Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival, Encosta De Lago three-year-old English is best known for her second to Vancouver in last year’s Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m).
Off a lengthy let-up she returned on March 5 at Randwick and enjoyed a win in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) before a mid-field sixth to Griante in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill.
She then caught the eye on April 2 back at Randwick defeated under one and a half lengths when third to the successful defending champion Chautauqua in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) last time out.
Blackfriars five-year-old Black Heart Bart is yet to race in Sydney, but put the writing on the wall for a big Randwick debut when second to The Quarterback in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington two back before his last start Group 3 Caulfield win over 1400m on March 26.
Kermadec is the highest-rated All Aged Stakes nominee, the multiple Group 1 winning Teofilo four-year-old out to atone for his failed 15th when dead last in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m), a race he won 12 months earlier.
Outside the single figure chances the next best for the win at juicer odds include seven-year-old Our Boy Malachi ($14) coming off a TJ Smith Stakes fourth and the Kris Lees-trained Italian import Goldstream ($17) who has won five of his seven career starts to date ahead of his maiden run down under.
Check out the full futures All Aged Stakes 2016 odds below, all-in prices open online now at Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Odds Boost!
