Criterion Among Caulfield Stakes Winners

The win gave Hayes and his training partner Tom Dabernig their fourth Group One win since they formed their training artnership just over 14 months ago. I think he is a great chance at $13.

“But to see him jump so well, it just makes a leading world class rider to take up that initiative to go forward after jumping so well”.

Chris Waller collected his first Caulfield Guineas with Press Statement and his second Group One for the afternoon after Vanbrugh took out the Spring Champion Stakes in Sydney.

Press Statement firmed from $15 into $9 in CrownBet’s Cox Plate market after his brilliant Guineas win at Caulfield on Saturday, but Waller said it was more likely he would be spared a test against the older horses in Australasia’s weight-for-age championship with a view to the autumn.

“To put everything into perspective, when he won the JJ Atkins in the winter he was a maiden, he hadn’t raced”.

Royal Ascot disappointment Criterion is vying for favouritism for the Cox Plate after returning to action at home with a Group 1 victory in Melbourne on Saturday.

“I don’t know. Maybe we can do that next year”.

Stay With Me has emulated her famous mother Miss Finland with a memorable Thousand Guineas victory at Caulfield which provided trainer David Hayes with a special moment.

Bred to succeed: Stay With Me charges clear under the riding of Dwayne Dunn to win the 1000 Guineas at Caulfield.

Backed from $2.80 to run the $2.50 favourite, Press Statement scored by 1-3/4 lengths from Lizard Island ($19) with Ready For Victory ($11) a neck away third.

“I didn’t want to be last on her and I didn’t want to lead and I ended up covering ground”. Waller was noncommittal on a start in the Cox Plate for the 3-year-old colt bred in Australia by Mr. T. Muollo.

The 2015 Melbourne Cup is now on the agenda for Criterion and jockey Michael Walker is confident that the four-time Group 1 victor can run out a strong 3200 metres in “the race that stops a nation” at Flemington on November 3.

Hayes said he’ll have a team meeting with Stay With Me’s owners headed by John Messara’s Arrowfield Stud.

“We’ve won the Group One and that was the initial goal and we’ll see how she pulls up”, Hayes said. We have got the Myer, the Wakeful or the Mackinnon to look at.

Pasadena Girl started the $4 favourite and finished fourth.