A BEAMING BRYAN GUY AND HIS PRESS LINK CONNECTION

By Graham Potter | Friday, March 22, 2024

When Press Link dismissed his opposition with contemptuous ease at Eagle Farm on Saturday to make it three wins from three starts, Bryan Guy’s smile could not have been brighter.

If you had not been at the track for quite a while you would have been forgiven for assuming that Guy had just trained another winner … after-all, Press Link did salute in the yellow with royal blue cuffs and collar silks of Guy’s long time clients and Michael Rodd, with whom Guy has had over a twenty-year association, was in the saddle.

But you would have been wrong.

Guy stepped back and retired from a successful training career in February 2022 … how quickly time passes … and he was just there to enjoy the win of Press Link, who he had purchased on behalf of gelding’s owners with Robert Heathcote doing the training duties to perfection at this stage … as indicated by Pree Link’s unbeaten record.

"Personally, I’m rapt to see Bryan Guy back at the races,” said Heathcote. That big smile on his face … back in front of the TV … I pushed him forward. There were a lot of laughs.

“I’ve always got on well with Bryan and Daniel (Guy). After they retired, they said to me, we’ve bought a nice horse … we’d like you to train it for our clients in Hong Kong, so that’s how the horse came to me.”

Bryan Guy takes up the story.

“These clients have been with me for many years, and we had our fair share of success together when I was training.

“They are good people and I do my best to look after them well.

“I have bought horses for them over the years. They don’t buy at every sale. I just wait until they tell me they are ready to take on another horse … and, no, I’m not really looking at branching out and buying horses for other people.

“I’m not looking for it … but, if it happens, it happens.

“I bought Press Link for $45 000. I enjoy going to the track when the horse wins … and knowing the I had something to do with it.

“There was never any pressure for Press Link to go to the Magic Millions. He just wasn’t ready, and Rob (Heathcote) said that … and the owners were as good as gold with that decision.

“Now he has won three out of three and will be heading to the Winter Carnival.”

Horses that show the kind of well above average ability that Press Link has already displayed are obvious targets for Hong Kong buyers … and, with Press Link’s owners already based in Hong Kong, the option of the horse changing racing precincts in the future seems a serious possibility.

Guy, though, was happy to confirm that Press Link would stay Brisbane based with the Heathcote stable for, at least, until the end of the Winter Carnival.

“It’s early days,” said Guy. “We are just waiting to see how he goes. If he happens to show he is good enough in the Queensland Guineas … if he wins or runs a good race … then he is going to turn four and the Hong Kong Derby is for four-year-olds.

“If they think he is good enough they might take him over there for their Derby, but those sorts of decisions will only be made after the Carnival. That’s all-long range. He’s got to take another step yet.

And the final word … an overview of the Press Link story so far ... from trainer Robert Heathcote.

“Press Link is a horse blessed with ability,” said Heathcote.

“He came into my system very early. I told the guys … no pun intended … I really liked their horse, but I also told them it was green and raw and all the clichés that we all talk about.”

“I said, I think the horse has got a lot of potential, so I don’t want to push it. I had no hesitation saying that to them. Hence the reason when we finally got him to the races and he won … I put him straight out. I gave him a good spell.

“At that stage I addressed the question of the possibility of running him in the Magic Millions. I said he is not ready … mentally. Physically … a lovely horse, but mentally not ready. I asked to give him more time.

“Bryan said, look, you are the trainer… you do what you want, because the clients in Hong Kong will be very patient and be happy to take your lead.

“I think I have vindicated that decision with Press Link coming back and going bang, bang … and running faster time than the Open class race.

“Admittedly, time is only really important to those in a penitentiary, but he did run a super time,” quipped Heathcote.

And Heathcote is all too aware and completely understanding of how a move to Hong Kong might become a reality for Press Link in the future.

“Look, there is always talk about well-performed horses going to Hong Kong. I hope he doesn’t … but, having said that, I understand the logistics and the economics of it.

“The owners are happy. They are going to have a runner in the Daybreak Lover. They are going to have a runner in the Queensland Guineas … and hopefully the story does not end there and there are other things to come afterwards.

“But, whatever happens, the bottom line is I am very appreciative of Bryan and Daniel Guy in entrusting me with their client’s good horse.

‘We are all looking forward to the Carnival.”

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