Press Link is back in business and is taking up from pretty much where he left off in Australia … but it has been a while.
Press Link’s win at Eagle Farm on Saturday came not only in his first run in thirteen-and-a-half months, but also in his first run since changing countries, returning t Australia from Hong Kong … factors which highlight Saturday’s result as a superb training effort by Robert Heathcote while also giving a sharp reminder if Press Link’s inherent above average ability.
Press Link had last run in Australia on May 18, 2024. With his owners based in Hong Kong, a move to that racing jurisdiction was always more than a possibility for Press Link, and the decision to test the waters in Hong Kong was duly taken with by his connections after his run in the Rough Habit.
The Rough Habit was Press Link’s only unplaced result in six starts (he jumped from barrier number 14), and he left Australia’s shores as a three-time winner with two Black Type placings (in the Listed Daybreak Lover and the Group 2 Queensland Guineas) to his credit.
Fair to say, the move to Hong Kong didn’t work out.
Press Link only had two runs at Sha Tin, the first coming six months after his start in Australia in the Rough Habit … and the second a month later. He was well beaten in both starts and his future prospects were then reassessed, once again.
Bryan Guy, who advises Press Link’s owners, takes up the story.
“I don’t think he settled in real well in Hong Kong and then we got a report that he was struggling with an injury,” said Guy. “The owners said, what should we do? I asked the owners what do you want to do? They said they wanted to keep racing the horse if and when they could … and I said, well, you have got to send him back to Australia for that.
“I said, send him back … and when he gets back, I have him checked out here … which we did. We got him looked at and it was an issue which just needed to be given a bit of time. The boys were happy to do that and to then give him back to Robbie (Heathcote) when he was ready. Robbie had done well with the horse before … and we went from there.
“He came back in September 2025 and, you know, with quarantine they fall away a little bit, but he built up in the time off after that and he looks bloody beautiful now.”
Not only ‘bloody beautiful’ … but Saturday’s stunning return seemingly brought him right back to the pervious superior level of performance he enjoyed in those first six starts in Australia as evidenced by a comparison offered by Guy.
“You go back and have a look at a race before he went to Hong Kong when Michael Rodd rode him at Eagle Farm on March 16, 2024. You have a look at that win. That win was sensational.
“He looked like he was gone at the furlong, and he won by three with his head on his chest.”
Nearly two years later, after his performance on Saturday, it would be hard to argue against the fact that Press Link has well-and-truly pressed the reset button and come out firing with just as much potency as he possessed before.
Just as it was in the run referenced by Guy, on Saturday Press Link did not even appear to be half-a-chance when he was second last and still six lengths out of his ground early in the home straight. The acceleration that followed from Press Link was both mesmerising and quite brutal in its execution as the son of Press Statement broke the hearts of his rivals claiming an inch perfect, last stride victory.
It should be mentioned that Press Link came home under an equally impressive, forceful ride from Vlad Duric.
The bottom line being that, whichever way you look at it, this appears to be a significant win.
If it does indeed confirm that Press Link is back to his best in his first-up run after a long layoff … that can only bode well for the future.
It could go either way, of course, but taking into account Press Link is now a very lightly raced five-year-old with only nine starts behind his name, all things being equal, the scope for more improvement to come seems to be infinite.
Nobody associated with the horse would want to get ahead of themselves, but Press Link’s current positive situation … so far removed from being in the wilderness a year ago … does beg the question, is Press Link a coming force … and, maybe, just maybe a future headline act?
*Press Link’s sire, Press Statement, was a six-time winner from only eleven starts with those wins including Group 1 successes in the JJ Atkins and the Caulfield Guineas.
