A patient ride by Tommy Berry bought out the best in the talented Press Statement mare Roots in Saturday’s $500,000 Group II James Squire Hot Danish Stakes at Rosehill.
The Group II ATC Emancipation Stakes heroine stalked the early speed set by Call Di and was coming away to defeat the Frankel mare Call Di by two and three-quarter lengths with the Pins mare Finepoint a neck back in third.
With her second stakes success the Chris Waller-trained mare advances her record to seven three two from 21 starts with earnings of $954,890.
“The addition of blinkers helped,” stable representative Damien Fitton said.
“She was probably a bit lazy in The Invitation and Tommy said, ‘whack them on’. He worked her throughout the week and she was exceptional. It was a great ride.”
“There was more speed than anticipated on paper, but to Tommy’s credit, he held her up and let her use her turn of foot when it counted most.
“Things didn’t go to plan (in The Invitation), simple as that. She lost confidence and didn’t have that finishing dash that she was entitled to give. So with the blinkers back on really helped her today.
“She’s been a model of consistency her whole career and she’s just continuing to progress as she gets older.
“So, there might be a nice little Group One somewhere for her, but we’ll leave it to Chris. The way she’s working at home and the way she’s racing, there’s no doubt she’s got the ability to do it.”
Roots was a $52,000 purchase for Murakami Kinya Murakami on the recommendation of bloodstock agent Satomi Oka, from the Vinery Stud draft at the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale Highway Session.
Murakami sold a controlling interest in the daughter of Press Statement to agent Sheamus Mills, acting for clients Heath Newton and Anthony Roberts after she finished second to Fangirl in the Listed Reginald Allen at her second start.
Bred by Greg Perry and partners, Roots is the best of three winners from the Big Brown (USA) mare Arctic Success, a half-sister to Group I STC Golden Slipper winner Polar Success, the dam of stakes-winner Lillemor.
Vinery Stud sold a yearling colt by Exceedance from Arctic Success at Magic Millions this year for $95,000 to Simon Zahra Racing.
Not covered in 2021, Arctic success foaled another Exceedance colt on September 2.
Now in New Zealand, Caulfield Guineas and JJ Atkins Stakes winner Press Statement stands at Novara Park for $6,600.
