Gai Waterhouse has confirmed her classy Danwin gelding Theseo will resume racing in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Warwick Farm on March 5, attempting back-to-back wins in the weight-for-age feature first-up.
Last season Theseo resumed in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill running eighth behind Danleigh before taking out the 2010 Chipping Norton second-up for the season and then claiming the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) for the second year in a row at his next start.
In a thrilling finish to last year’s Chipping Norton Stakes, Theseo was able to narrowly hold off a fast finishing Rangirangdoo in a photo result before again defeating the Chris Waller-trained gelding in the Ranvet.
Rangirangdoo is engaged in a barrier trial at Rosehill this morning, his first track appearance since winning the Doncaster Mile at Randwick in April of last year.
This year Waterhouse has not entered Theseo for Saturday’s Apollo Stakes, instead saving the seven-year-old warhorse for the Chipping Norton, the opening Group 1 race of the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.
Waterhouse has planned a very light autumn campaign for her ageing star with just three season starts on the card for Theseo.
Following his attempt at successive Chipping Norton Stakes wins on March 5, Theseo will then be given the chance to win an unprecedented three straight Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill on March 19.
The final autumn run for Theseo will then take place on the final Sydney Autumn Carnival meet on April 23 in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at the Royal Randwick.
Theseo showed he was returning to form with a narrow barrier trial win over 1050m at Randwick on February 8, ridden by regular jockey Nash Rawiller.
Meanwhile, Waterhouse’s talented filly More Strawberries has been nominated for the $100,000 Listed Triscay Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill this Saturday after being withdrawn from the Light Fingers Stakes last weekend.
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