Vinery Stud, in partnership with the China Horse Club, has acquired a significant interest in exciting Group 1 winning two-year-old Press Statement.

The Chris Waller trained colt remained undefeated throughout his two-year-old season, confirming his class when an easy winner of the G1 J J Atkins Stakes (1600m) at Doomben on June 6.

“He is a very talented colt and won the J J Atkins comfortably,” Waller said.  “I trained Zoustar and Brazen Beau who both ran second in that race.  I believe Press Statement is a better horse now than they were at the same stage and I think he fits the mould of being a super-star colt.”

Press Statement (2c Hinchinbrook – Kaaptive Empress by Kaaptive Edition) is a homebred for Tony and Gianna Muollo and the couple race the colt with good friends Con and Fotoula Hadjiparaskeua.  They have enjoyed great success with the likes of It’s A Dundeel and Pressday.

His sire Hinchinbrook is a Fastnet Rock three-quarter brother to Snitzel and is odds-on to claim the Australian freshman title with earnings over $1.01 million this season.  His first-crop leader is a younger half-brother to Pressday who also won the J J Atkins in 2010 when it was known as the T J Smith Stakes.

Press Statement commenced his racing career in April winning on debut at Canterbury over 1100m before heading to Rosehill four weeks later for another dominant win over 1350m.

Waller sent him north for the J J Atkins Stakes and the colt travelling comfortably for most of the mile journey before unleashing a quick turn of foot over the last furlong to win a Group 1 at just his third start.

Press Statement will target feature races like the G1 Caulfield Guineas during the spring carnival.  “It was a great start for any young colt,” Vinery Stud’s Peter Orton said.  “It is, however, the potential improvement we can see that’s most exciting.”

China Horse Club representative Michael Wallace said it’s very exciting to secure a horse of Press Statement’s quality in partnership with such a successful organisation as Vinery and the colt’s current owners.

“It gives our China Horse Club members a great opportunity, both on the track and eventually at stud.  Colts of his quality are highly sought after by our members and are an essential part of the bloodstock portfolio we are striving to develop.”

PRESS STATEMENT