Stablemates Kermadec and Press Statement will be pitted against each other in the All Aged Stakes to determine if one or both goes to Royal Ascot.
Trainer Chris Waller believes the 1400 metres of Saturday’s Group One race will suit the pair who have had mixed autumn campaigns.
Press Statement
“I think Kermadec is more of a sprinter and we will bring him back in distance,” Waller said.
“Press Statement is a good 1400 metre horse and that’s what you need for the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.
“It is a tough 1200 metres.”
Waller took Brazen Beau to the Royal meeting in June last year and the colt was just beaten by American sprinter Undrafted.
The experience is one the trainer would like to repeat.
“It’s an amazing experience and if you have a colt it can be important for their breeding careers,” he said.
Press Statement’s future at Vinery Stud is already locked in.
The colt won the J J Atkins at two and this season has claimed the Caulfield Guineas.
His three autumn starts have reaped a win in the Hobartville Stakes (1400m) before a second in the Randwick Guineas (1600m) to Le Romain.
In last month’s George Ryder Stakes won by his stablemate Winx, Press Statement finished third with Kermadec filling second spot.
“He will be fresh for the All Aged and he races well that way,” Waller said.
The 2015 Doncaster Mile winner, Kermadec finished last, 17 lengths from the winner Winx, in the race this year and had a poor post recovery rate.
Waller has carefully monitored him since and will give him a searching gallop on Tuesday.
The trainer has not completely ruled out a trip to England for another of the stable’s Group One winners Japonisme.
The three-year-old, who claimed the Coolmore Stud Stakes against his own age in the spring, finished third in a three-way photo finish to the William Reid stakes last month.
Back to his own age at Randwick on Saturday, he held off stablemate Counterattack to win the Group Two Arrowfield Sprint.
“He is about 50-50 for Ascot,” Waller said.
