RHILL MAR 20 - SECOND RANVET STAKES FOR THESEO

Monday, March 22, 2010

Rosehill, March 20, 2010.
Track - Dead 4. Rail - True.
Ranvet Stakes (Group 1 - 3yo and up - WFA) -2000m.
Time: 2.02:33 (Carrying 59kg).
1 Theseo; 2 Rangirangdoo; 3 Speed Gifted.

The six year old gelding Theseo has secured his tenth career win, his fifth at Group One level, with a strong victory in the Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.

The Gai Waterhouse trained galloper was having his third start back from a lengthy spell and was coming off victory in the Group One Chipping Norton Stakes where he narrowly accounted for Rangirangdoo.

Punters were confident that Theseo could repeat that performance and sent him out a ruling $2.80 favourite.

Ridden by his regular partner Nash Rawiller, Theseo jumped from the widest gate in the twelve horse field.

Rawiller kept his mount wide initially and gradually pressed forward. By the 1400m, he had rolled to the lead with little extra effort and was striding comfortably.

Heading down the back straight, Rawiller allowed the son of Danewin to run along, setting a solid tempo with a length lead over Road to Rock.

Second favourite, Rangirangdoo was travelling in fifth spot one of the fence and five lengths behind Theseo.

As the field rounded the turn home, Rawiller had the confidence to have a look over his left shoulder where he would have seen Road To Rock and Daffodil on his tail with a further length back to Rangirangdoo who was peeling out wider to make his run. As Rawiller rolled away from the fence, Speed Gifted and Purple where staking their claims on his inside.

With vigorous hands and heels riding, Theseo was holding all challenges at bay as the field raced inside the last 100m where Rawiller was going to no chances and drew the whip to ensure Theseo was punched out right to the line.

In the end, it was a comfortable three quarters of a length win for Theseo from Rangirangdoo with a similar margin back to Speed Gifted in third.

Theseo will be out to make it three consecutive Group One victories in a fortnight’s time when he steps out in The BMW (2400m) on Golden Slipper day. Theseo finished second to Fuimicino in last year’s BMW.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Gai Waterhouse: “He’s a very special horse.

“He had not a very nice alley, but I loved the way Nash (Rawiller)just slid him out from a wide alley, let him get in to his rhythm very early and it was just that lovely daisy-cutting action he’s got.

“When he just rolled off the fence just slightly in the straight ... it was very exciting.

“He’s such a lovely horse and we were having such a dud day! It’s nice to have a good one now.

“I said to the owners if you thought you had a horse on Chipping Norton day, I know we’ve got a real horse today ... because whatever he did on Chipping Norton day, what I’ve seen from him since then, he’s just gone along in leaps and bounds.”

“We will probably go there (the BMW). We would like to win that because last year we felt we were a little bit denied last year, taking nothing away from the winner.”

Jockey Nash Rawiller: “It’s been amazing.

Full credit to Gai (Waterhouse) and Steve O’Halloran and the strapper Steph. Especially Gai because when he had all those problems she just, through the Steve’s guidance, knew when to back off and have a break and then bring him back and have another go and try and get him fit.

“She’s been able to keep him fit and in one piece. Obviously get him to the races and to win two Group 1’s in a row is just amazing.

“I think horses are going to struggle to go with him with the 59kgs at weight for age. He’s not one of these stack them up and sprint home horses. He just grinds them into the ground.”

“He’s so tough. I was so full of confidence on the home turn.

“I started to quicken up and let him go through he’s gears from the 700m. I wasn’t worried about him stopping.”

“I’ve said all along the day Fiumicino beat us, if the track was a genuine dead, I reckon he would’ve won the race so no concerns from me about running out the 2400m (when they go to the BMW in two weeks time).

PRICES:
Theseo (2.80 favourite); Rangirangdoo (4.60); Speed Gifted (26.00).

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
N Hall, rider of Divine Rebel, was found guilty of a charge of careless riding in that he permitted his mount to shift in near the 800m, tightening Speed Gifted in onto No Wine No Song, resulting in No Wine No Song losing its running and being checked.

N Hall’s licence to ride in races was suspended for a period of six meetings, to commence on Sunday, 21 March 2010 and to expire on Wednesday, 31 March 2010, on which day he may ride.

G Schofield, rider of Moatize reported his mount dipped at the 600m.

At the 500m Roman Emperor had to be restrained when awkwardly placed on the heels of Mr Baritone, shifted out and hampered Alcopop.

When questioned concerning his actions in the saddle just prior to the finishing line, N Rawiller explained that he had commenced a forehand whip stroke, but when he found himself close to the line and in control of the race he remained in an upright position until past the winning post and did not fully execute the stroke.

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