Theseo On Track For Cox Plate

Winner: Theseo (Danewin-Ozone Sand)
Race: NSW Tatt’s RC Chelmsford Stakes G2 (1400m)
Sold for: $120,000
Sale: 2005 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Emirates Park
Buyer: Star Thoroughbreds
Earnings: $3,201,980
Owner(s): M Townsend, P Evans, Mrs A Wilberforce, C Thompson, Mrs S Hardie, R Stanwell, G Sobels, G Menzies, Mrs J Nathans & Mrs M Rusk
Trainer(s): Gai Waterhouse (Randwick)

TheseoSydney wonder horse Theseo boosted his outstanding second up record when he led his rivals a merry dance in today’s Group Two Chelmsford Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.

The spritely seven-year-old sent his earnings soaring past $3.2 million when he beat home Metal Bender by a length.

Trainer, Hall of Fame horsewoman Gai Waterhouse, said Theseo was on track for his main mission – a crack at the Cox Plate in October.

“He’s such a champ this horse,” Waterhouse beamed. “Isn’t he amazing.”

“He’s come back with such a vengeance. He’s so much stronger and so much more focused.”

Theseo“It’s harder when the horses get older to get them fit. But he’s getting close to peak fitness.”

Theseo will have one more run in Sydney, in Group One company, prior to heading to Melbourne.

“He’ll go to the George Main (Stakes) and then we’ll go to Melbourne for the Cox Plate – that’s our mission.”

Winning jockey Nash Rawiller was all smiles after the two combined for their eighth big race win.

“At the half mile I was a bit concerned on the fence there,” Rawiller said moments after unsaddling. 

“He put in a few short strides and I thought we were in trouble.”

Theseo“But I then went three to four off (the fence) and he was a lot happier there.”

“He was never going to get beaten in the straight. I was always pretty confident we had them.”

A graduate of Emirates Park, Theseo was purchased by Denise Martin for $120,000 at the 2005 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Since then he has carried the familiar purple and white starred colours in many of the countries biggest races and in the process earned $3,201,980.

His list of feature races is extensive. Today’s win was his ninth at stakes level. He’s already a five time Group One winner.

The Danewin gelding is one of two stakes winners produced, from five to race, for his dam Ozone Stakes.

A stakes placegetter in the United States, Ozone Sand is also the dam of the Perak Derby winner Gold Arrow.

The family further back includes the gun international sprinter Caller One – a winner of 11 races including the Golden Shaheen on Dubai World Cup night.