Dual Group 1 winner Press Statement has completed an ideal tune-up for the 2016 Randwick Guineas in a fortnight with a resounding first-up success in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill this afternoon.

Press Statement eased in betting markets in the hours leading up to jump this afternoon, but did his chances of success no harm when jumping well and immediately taking an ideal position in running on the heels of early leaders Spill The Beans, Wolf Cry and Dal Cielo.

Offered a clear racing line upon arriving at the final straight, the Hinchinbrook colt was given plenty of time by Hugh Bowman to settle before the hoop asked for an extra effort, and his class prevailed when he comfortably strode clear to hit the line two lengths ahead of an impressive Le Romain.

Chris Waller was thrilled the champion colt was able to convert his class into a first-up win amongst good company and is confident he will improve into the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) in two weeks.

“As I said last week with Winx it’s not as easy as it might sound,” Waller said after the race.

“It looks so easy but when you’re training them everything else comes into the equation – have I got it right? At 1400m he’s a good horse, but is he at that same level?

“Class horses help the trainer though.

“He showed from barrier 8 he can put himself in the race. Barrier 8 is hard – everyone wants to be where he was today but only one of two jockeys can get there in a race.

“They can’t knock each other down, they have to do it within the laws of racing. Good jockeys like Hugh Bowman make it looks so easy, so that’s the first weapon in his armoury.

“He’s come back a little bit stronger, he’s about 10kgs heavier but isn’t fat. He’s come back better.

“Randwick Guineas is the logical target in two weeks’ time, it’s a mile, has always been firmly in our sights and we thought today would be ideal as a stepping stone.”

Bowman delivered a typically stunning performance aboard Press Statement for success and is relishing the thought of the colt’s return to Group 1 level in the Randwick Guineas.

“I was blown away to be honest,” Bowman said.

“I couldn’t gallop him earlier this week, I haven’t ridden him in his trials because I haven’t been here.

“I felt like he was going to need the day out but when I cantered him to the barriers and he stuck a little pig-rooting in I knew he was ready to go.

“There’s improvement in him and he’s certainly an exciting prospect.

“He’s a Caulfield Guineas winner already but I think he could go to another level. He’s got such a big stride and it takes him a while to get organised and get balanced but when I showed him the whip then, my word did he respond.”

Punters who backed Press Statement to win the 2016 Hobartville Stakes with Ladbrokes.com.au enjoyed $2.10 odds for success!

2016 Hobartville Stakes Results

Finish	No.	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Margin	Bar.	Weight	Starting Price
1	1	PRESS STATEMENT	Chris Waller	Hugh Bowman	–	8	56.5kg	$2F
2	11	LE ROMAIN	Kris Lees	Christian Reith	2.3L	11	56.5kg	$19
3	12	MONTAIGNE (NZ)	Anthony Cummings	Jason Collett	3.6L	4	56.5kg	$13
4	8	SPILL THE BEANS	Gerald Ryan	Matthew Cameron	3.8L	9	56.5kg	$5
5	6	WOLF CRY	Peter & Paul Snowden	Blake Shinn	4.2L	12	56.5kg	$20
6	4	DAL CIELO (NZ)	Murray Baker	Kerrin McEvoy	4.5L	1	56.5kg	$15
7	13	BALMAIN BOY	Les Bridge	Tim Clark	4.9L	3	56.5kg	$51
8	9	TORGERSEN (NZ)	Chris Waller	Tommy Berry	5L	5	56.5kg	$51
9	3	ETYMOLOGY	John O’Shea	Ms Kathy O’Hara	5.4L	2	56.5kg	$51
10	2	VANBRUGH	Chris Waller	Tye Angland	5.6L	13	56.5kg	$18
11	5	SHARDS	John O’Shea	Brenton Avdulla	6.7L	10	56.5kg	$14
12	10	TOO GOOD TO REFUSE	Desleigh Forster	Robbie Fradd	7.7L	7	56.5kg	$41
13	7	TARQUIN	John O’Shea	Rory Hutchings (a)	11.2L	6	56.5kg	$31