Gai Waterhouse?s impressive six-year-old Theseo claimed back-to-back success in the $400, 000 Group 1 Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday in a brilliant all-the-way win.
It was Theseo?s second successive Group 1 victory this autumn, and the fifth of his career, following his win in the Chipping Norton Stakes last start.
On Saturday it was a d?j? vu as Theseo, the $2.80 favourite, again beat home runner-up Rangirangdoo ($4.60) this time by three quarters of a length.
Theseo got away well and lead from the start, with the Chris Waller-trained Rangirangdoo giving it everything he had to catch the leader. Rangirangdoo loomed dangerously close around the 200m mark but Theseo simply accelerated further outclassing the Chipping Norton runner-up once again.
It was Rangirangdoo?s third Group 1 second place this season.
Lee Freedman?s imported galloper Speed Gifted ($26) showed a promising return to form when he ran a gallant third after finding a good position on the rails.
Theseo is one of only four horses to claim successive Ranvet Stakes, the others being Sky High (1962 & 1963), Beau Zam (1988 & 1989) and Tie The Knot (2000 & 2001).
A son of Danewin, Theseo has now won 10 of his 33 career starts and Saturday?s victory saw his total prizemoney soar to over $3 million.
Waterhouse is now looking towards either the Group 1 BMW (2400m) on April 3 or a shorter run in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) on April 17 for Theseo.
The other highlight race at the meeting was the $600, 000 Group 1 Coolmore Classic won by the classy Paul Messara-trained Alverta.
2010 Ranvet Stakes Results:
Place |
Horse |
Trainer |
Jockey |
| 1 | THESEO |
Gai Waterhouse | Nash Rawiller |
| 2 | RANGIRANGDOO (NZ) |
Chris Waller | Jim Cassidy |
| 3 | SPEED GIFTED (GB) |
Lee Freedman | Glen Boss |
| 4 | DAFFODIL (NZ) |
Kevin Gray | Hugh Bowman |
| 5 | NO WINE NO SONG |
Kevin Moses | Luke Nolen |
| 6 | DIVINE REBEL (NZ) |
Michael Moroney | Nicholas Hall |
| 7 | LITTORIO |
Nigel Blackiston | Craig Williams |
| 8 | MOATIZE |
Bart Cummings | Glyn Schofield |
| 9 | ROAD TO ROCK |
Anthony Cummings | Joshua Parr |
| 10 | ROMAN EMPEROR (NZ) |
Bart Cummings | Michael Rodd |
| 11 | PURPLE |
Peter Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy |
| 12 | ALCOPOP |
Jake Stephens | Dom Tourneur |
