Equation Impresses at Randwick - Fourth Winner for Press Statement

Mark Smith - Wednesday June 3

Well-fancied when a fading sixth on debut behind the outstanding Peltzer in a hot form race at Randwick on May 9, the Press Statement colt Equation showed he had taken enormous benefit from that run by breaking his maiden in impressive fashion over 1100m on the Kensington track at Randwick on Wednesday.

Ridden by Tommy Berry for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Equation was caught wide from his outside barrier and Berry opted to get out of the speed battle to settle worse than midfield.

When pulled out to the centre of the track, Equation lengthened impressively to run down the game Not A Single Doubt colt Falcon by two and a quarter lengths with the Hinchinbrook colt Sharpshooter one and three-quarter lengths back in third.  

There was a touch of irony in the result as Equation was bred by China Horse Club Racing whose colours were carried by the second and third placed horses.

Tommy Berry said Equation has a bright future.

“I was a bit deflated after his first start because I had a pretty big of opinion of him but when you go back and look at it he probably ended up in the wrong part of the track because the fence was hot and he just got a little bit lost,” Berry said.

“He travelled much better for me he didn’t lose his compass coming around the corner. I was able to balance him up and hold him onto the straight.

“At home and in his trials he is one of the quietest young horse I have had anything to do with. That first run has switched him on and I think in time you will see a nice progressive young horse. He is probably more of a three-year-old and the best is yet to come.”

Advertisement

Assistant trainer Annabel Neasham said she was surprised by the early speed in the race.Press Staement image Mark Smith

“On paper we didn’t think there a huge amount of speed and we thought he may be able to cross outside the leader but they all kicked up inside of him so it was a good ride by Tommy to get him slotted back, three wide with cover,” Neasham said.

“We are really grateful to them (Aquis). Life is a lot easier when you have well-bred horses in the stable. He has also got some of our stable clients, Paul Sue and the McDowells among others, so it’s great for them.

“We may have raised the bar a bit high at his first start in a Saturday race but coming back a level today he will take plenty of confidence from that and he will be a nice horse next season.”

Equation was knocked down to Aquis for $110,000 out of the Sledmere Stud draft at the 2018 National Weanling Sale.

The powerfully made son of Press Statement is the second foal and first runner out of the stakes-placed Percentage who was the second most expensive yearling sold at public auction by Onemorenomore when she made $250,000 at the 2013 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale.

A daughter of the Listed AJC Gimcrack Stakes winner and Group 1 Thousand Guineas third Spurcent (Flying Spur), Percentage has a yearling Vancouver colt that was knocked down to Kennedy Racing for $110,000 at this years Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

Equation becomes the fourth first crop winner for Vinery Stud’s dual Group 1 winner Press Statement who will stand at a fee of $13,750 in 2020.

Advertisment

Race Result - Magna Grecia@coolmore Aust.Mdn 1100m

Randwick-Kensington Track: Soft(7) Time: 1:04.63
1
Equation
- 2c Press Statement (AUS) x Purcentage (AUS) (Onemorenomore (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Tommy Berry 57.5
2
2.3
Falcon
- 2c Not A Single Doubt (AUS) x Touched In Flight (AUS) (Fasliyev (USA))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: Tim Clark 57.5
3
4.1
Sharpshooter
- 2c Hinchinbrook (AUS) x Prostar (AUS) (Starcraft (NZ))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: K Mc Evoy 57.5
4
5.4
The Denzel
- 2g Adelaide (IRE) x Ooh La La (AUS) (Duporth (AUS))
Tnr: L J Bridge Rdr: Jean Van Overmeire 56
5
8.4
Tastebud
- 2f Hinchinbrook (AUS) x Follow That Cat (AUS) (Tale Of The Cat (USA))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: A Hyeronimus 55.5
6
8.8
Italian Princess
- 2f Zoustar (AUS) x Saggiatore (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: David Pfieffer Rdr: J R Collett 55.5
7
9.0
Absolutely Foxy
- 2f Foxwedge (AUS) x Absolutely Livid (AUS) (Fasliyev (USA))
Tnr: G Portelli Rdr: Ms L Day 54
8
13.3
Giftgiver
- 2g Nicconi (AUS) x Gibraltar's Gift (AUS) (Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE))
Tnr: Stephen O'Halloran Rdr: N Rawiller 58
9
16.1
About To Launch
- 2f Smart Missile (AUS) x Break Card (AUS) (Danzero (AUS))
Tnr: John Thompson Rdr: Rachel King 55.5
More Reading...
Kiwi stayer Mark Twain on Comeback Trail
One-time Melbourne Cup fancy Mark Twain will make his first public appearance for more than 12 months when the Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained gelding has an exhibition gallop at Te Rapa on Saturday.
Spring Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
Spring was in the air at Warwick Farm on Friday morning with a couple of heats for Group and Listed winners that included Lady Shenandaoh, Ceolwulf, plus Cups contender Sir Delius (GB).
Lookalike Star Turn Colt Franks Hot Form Race
When Angel Ladder won the first race at Geelong coming out of the VRC Next Gen Series Sprinters Final won by Jimmy Recard, you would think punters would have looked closely at Redders in the following event coming out of the same race, but he slipped under their guard.
First Stakes Winner for Press Statement
Given a peach of a ride by Tommy Berry, Equation rang up a first stakes win for his trainer Annabel Neasham and sire Press Statement in Monday’s Listed Canberra Guineas (1400m).
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Who are we highlighting this week? - Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for this season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end next season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
Sires With Winners - Friday July 25
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
St Mark’s Basilica Filly Impressive at Ascot
Due back at Coolmore Australia this spring, St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) had an impressive new winner overnight at Ascot in the UK where Princess Petrol stormed to victory.
Expensive North Pacific Salutes at Geelong
The highest priced yearling for first season sire North Pacific, promising two year-old filly Angel Ladder opened her account with a tenacious win at Geelong on Friday.
Inglis Digital Now Online - G1 Winner Velocious the Star
The G1-winning Champion 2YO Velocious (Written Tycoon) has been joined by a host of outstanding racing and breeding prospects in a tantalising Inglis Digital July (Late) Online Sale catalogue.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
Spring was in the air at the Warwick Farm trials with some of the big banger older stars in action and some exciting rising three year-olds that include a filly that has potential superstar written all over her.