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Son of Press Statement to race at Sandown on Wednesday and then be aimed at Group 2

Co-trainers Robbie Griffiths and Mathew De Kock have decided to run Daily Bugle (Press Statement) in a two-year-old race at Sandown instead of contesting the Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

With VOBIS and Super VOBIS bonus money on offer, Daily Bugle will be racing for a winner's cheque of almost $60,000 when he runs in the IVE Print Handicap (1400m) at Sandown on Wednesday. 

While the first prize of $900,000 in the Blue Diamond was tempting, as would the second and third prize-money of $270,000 and $135,000 respectively, Griffiths also noted the prize-money from fifth to eighth fell away to $30,000. 

A winner of his only start at Pakenham on January 28, Daily Bugle’s likely long-term target will be the VRC Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) at Flemington on March 6. 

"Matt and I thought this would be a nice preparation race for the Sires' Produce rather than going down the pathway of chasing the good ones in the Blue Diamond," Griffiths said. 

"He's got a really nice pedigree to stretch him out to seven furlongs and beyond. This will be a good opportunity for him to go down that road. 

"He might have a softer run on Wednesday, earn more money, give his confidence a boost and hopefully prepare him better going into the Sires' with hopefully another win. 

"Based on the strength of his win at Pakenham and the way he's trained on and the way he's bred, it looks as though it's highly achievable."