The field was packed with Group One performers and they needed to be to for the heat of the battle at the front was seriously tough, and it was the toughest of them all Theseo who returned to Group One winning form for the first time since the Ranvet Stakes over 2000m at Rosehill in March 2009.

He was spelled after an unplaced run in the Doncaster Handicap with a hoof injury, and then again after trainer Gai Waterhouse was not satisfied that he had returned to racing trim in the spring. This was his second race for this campaign after a mid-field run in the Group Two Apollo Stakes over 1400m at Rosehill on February 20^th.

In typical Waterhouse fashion Theseo was presented fitter on Saturday, and he needed to be.

 

 

 

Rawiller had Theseo out well from barrier two and they took the lead with stablemate Rock Kingdom and Blake Shinn tracking them on the outside. Behind them Tim Clark had $2.50 favourite Rangirangdoo (NZ) well positioned from barrier eight running close to the rail.

Theseo was running one off the rail and as they turned for the main straight the gap gave Clark his opportunity to run at Theseo with Rock Kingdom on the outside and not making ground. Back in the field was Rangirangdoo’ s stablemate Danleigh and Hugh Bowman.

The leading two settled down to a serious struggle for supremacy for the length of the straight. Rangirangdoo looked to have gained the ascendency with 100m to run, but Theseo was not a multiple Group One winner for nothing, and Rawiller was working hard reminding him that this was not the time to shirk his duties.

It was stride for stride and to Theseo’s credit he clawed back the margin and on the line he had a half-head over Rangirangdoo (Pentire) to his inside. Danleigh (Mujahid) and Bowman arrived late to take third place, the margin 1 3/4L.

The time was 1.37.45 on the Slow (6) track and the final 600m in 35.2. Theseo paid $8.10 on NSW TAB, and the final fix odds price was $8.50.

Theseo races in the colours of the Denise Martin Star Thoroughbreds purple and white stars and there were delighted owners in the mounting yard celebrating their horse’s return to winning form.

“This a great result for Gai and the team with Theseo being off the scene for a year. We knew he would be very hard to beat and he was so determined to win,” said Martin, deputising for the trainer who was in Melbourne.

“He is tough, he is a war horse,” declared Rawiller.

“I said to Gai this morning ‘how did you want him ridden’ and she said to treat him as the best horse in the race, and he just does not know how to give up.

“He definitely got to me for a stride. I do not know what to say about this horse but he is so determined. He has been my favourite and I know that this is not a million dollar race, but it feels fantastic,” he said.

“A good run with no excuses,” said a disappointed Clark.

“He went pretty well,” said Bowman of the stablemate.

This was Theseo’s fourth Group One victory and the six-year-old Danewin gelding has given outstanding racing to his owners M Townsend, P Evans, Mrs A Wilberforce, C Thompson, Mrs S Hardie, R Stanwell, G Sobels, G Menzies, Mrs J Nathans and Mrs M Rusk.

Theseo’s, out of the L’Enjoieur mare Ozone Sand, record now stands at nine wins from 32 starts, with nine placings and stakes of $2,741,180.