WFARM MAR 06 - THESEO WINS IN A THRILLER

By Scott Gooley | Monday, March 8, 2010

Warwick Farm, March 6, 2010.
Track - Slow 6. Rail - True.
Chipping Norton Stakes (Group 1 - 3yo - WFA) - 1600m.
Time: 1-37:45 (Carrying 59kgs).
1 Theseo; 2 Rangirangdoo; 3 Danleigh.

Six year old gelding Theseo secured his fourth Group One victory with a tough win in the Patinack Farm Chipping Norton Stakes at Warwick Farm on Saturday.

The son of Danewin, who returned to racing after a lengthy spell (ten months) with a solid effort in the Apollo Stakes a fortnight ago, was equal second favourite at $7 in a race where the betting was dominated by Rangirangdoo ($2.70).

Theseo ridden by his regular jockey Nash Rawiller, took full advantage of his inside barrier draw jumping well to lead the field of eleven runners through the first furlong, three-quarters-of-a-length in front of stable-mate, Rockwood.

Rangirangdoo ridden by Tim Clark began well and, after initially being caught a little wide early, Clark was able to take hold of the favourite and eased him on to the fence behind the leading pair.

Rawiller was able to dictate his own pace on Theseo as the field race passed the 800m mark, with Rockwood at his hindquarters and Rangirangdoo a little over a length behind him.

Approaching the home turn, Rawiller began to lift the pace and on the point of the turn, angled the Gai Waterhouse trained galloper four horses off the fence in search of the best ground.

This presented Rangirangdoo with an opportunity that Clark was quick to take and, as the runners straightened for the run home, Theseo was joined by Rangirangdoo on his inside.

Together the pair raced clear of Rockwood who could do no more and approaching the final furlong, Theseo held the slightest of leads.

Inside the final 100m Rangirangdoo appeared to head Theseo by the narrowest of margins, but in a great go to the line Theseo made one final effort as they reached the judge to get up by a half-head margin in what was a thrilling contest.

Rangirangdoo had to settle for his second narrow defeat in a fortnight whilst third place went to his stable-mate, Danleigh ($7) who, according to his jockey was unlucky not to finish closer to the action (see Stewards Report).

Tania Rouse (Foreman for the Gai Waterhouse stable): “A fantastic performance! He’s a real war-horse. Gai will be jumping up and down in Melbourne.

“Delighted for the owners. He’s been off the race-track for a while. That was just fantastic! Beautiful ride from Nash (Rawiller).

“Rangirangdoo headed him there in the straight, but he just kept fighting back all the way to the line. I just love the horse. He’s awesome. He’s going to improve again from that run today.”

Jockey Nash Rawiller: “He is tough. He’s just a warhorse. Gai was really adamant this morning that was how she wanted him ridden.

“Riding one of the best horses in the race and, like an old warhorse he is, he just doesn’t know how to give up. He (Rangirangdoo) definitely got to me and headed me for a stride.

“I don’t know what to say about the horse. He’s had a lot of problems ... just really happy. He’s been my favourite. It’s not a two million dollar race bit it feels like it. It’s just sensational.”

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
When questioned regarding the tactics adopted on the third placegetter, Danleigh, H Bowman stated, with the gelding stepping up to 1600m today, his instructions were to be back and to ensure that he was not trapped wide.

He said that in the early stages, as he crossed behind Roman Emperor, with a view to improving up to the inside of the heels of No Wine No Song, Road To Rock improved quickly to his inside, preventing him from continuing his shift in and, as a result, No Wine No Song crossed into the one out line and he finished up one horse further back.

H Bowman added that near the 700m, with Vision And Power and Roman Emperor to his outside, he elected, rather than go wide, to follow Speed Gifted through along the rails when that runner commenced to go forward quickly, however, again Road To Rock improved quickly to his inside, which meant that he was unable to continue his shift in to follow Speed Gifted and was held up on the back of Prima Nova and lost touch with Speed Gifted, as it went forward.

He further stated that then at the 350m he was able to improve to the inside of the heels of No Wine No Song and Danleigh finished the race off particularly well. H Bowman added that had it not been for the fact at the 600m he had to desist with his attempts to follow Speed Gifted because he would have interfered with Road To Rock, he was of the view he would have been two lengths closer and Danleigh may well have won the race.

In the incident at the 700m Road To Rock was tightened and lost momentum before finishing the race off well in the straight.

When questioned regarding the performance of Speed Gifted, T Angland stated the gelding became quite stirred up in the mounting yard. He added that he improved into the race from the 700m, but was disappointing in its failure to respond to his riding in the straight. A post race veterinary examination of Speed Gifted did not reveal any abnormalities.

When questioned, T Clark, rider of Rangirangdoo stated his instructions had been to hold the rail, as the gelding has a tendency to hang in under pressure and, as a consequence, he was content to improve through to the inside of Theseo and then work out to where he felt the going was superior down the straight.

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