Peter Snowden has already led in a winner of the Group 2 Theo Marks when has head trainer for the Darley operation back in 2012, he prepared Ambidexter to victory. Now training out of his own yard with son Paul, Snowden will love to be able to repeat the effort this year and record the first feature win for the new partnership with Cluster. Cluster heads the market in the small field of eight runners at $3.00, just in advance of Gai Waterhouse’s Bull Point ($3.20). VRC Oaks winner Kirramaso is rated a $5.00 chance whilst Tougher Than Ever is the only other runner under double figures at $9.00.
Theo Marks Stakes 2014 field:
| No | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LASER HAWK | Joseph Pride | Kerrin McEvoy | 7 | 59kg | ||
| 2 | NINTH LEGION | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | 5 | 54.5kg | |||
| 3 | ZEPHYRON (NZ) | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | 3 | 54kg | |||
| 4 | KIRRAMOSA (NZ) | John Sargent | Jason Collett | 1 | 53.5kg | ||
| 5 | BULL POINT | Chris Waller | Corey Brown | 8 | 53kg | ||
| 6 | JETSET LAD (NZ) | Brian Smith | Anthony Allen | 6 | 53kg | ||
| 7 | TOUGHER THAN EVER (NZ) | Chris Waller | 2 | 53kg | |||
| 8 | CLUSTER | Peter & Paul Snowden | Tim Clark | 4 | 53kg |
Theo Marks Stakes 2014 odds and results:
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1. LASER HAWK – K McEvoy (7) 59kgs
Did all he could do first up off a fifteen month break when eighth of nine (3.5 lengths) in the G2 Missile Stakes (1200m) behind Sweet Idea. That run was a month ago now and the 6yo Group 1 winner has been kept up to the mark since by trainer Joe Pride with a winning barrier trial last fortnight. Scratched from last week’s Chelmsford Stakes and better suited to this level at this stage of his prep but a dry track would be preferable.
2. NINTH LEGION – J McDonald (5) 54.5kgs
The Hawkes Racing galloper rounded out his last campaign with credible performances in the WFA G1 George Ryder Stakes (eighth, five lengths) and Doncaster Handicap (fifth, 2.6 lengths). He returned from his break in the G3 Show County and sat on the speed from an inside draw but wasn’t able to let down in the heavy conditions and weakened late to run seventh (4.6 lengths) behind Terravista. That was his fourth run on a slow/heavy track and he is yet to register a place. All his wins have been on top of the ground and would need those conditions to produce his best.
3. ZEPHYRON – T Berry (3) 54kgs
Lightly raced 6yo who continued to improve with every run last campaign. He won G3 Premier’s Cup (2200m) at Doomben before, as the 11/4 favourite, running third to Floria in the G2 Brisbane Cup (2400m) were a record time was set. Generally takes a run or two back before he hits his best form but did look ready for big campaign judging by his three length win in a 1175m barrier trial recently and best to treat wearily.
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4. KIRRAMOSA – J Collett (1) 53.5kgs
The VRC Oaks winner from last year returned from a long spell with a tremendous sixth (1.7 lengths) to Sweet Idea in the G2 WFA Missile Stakes (1200m). She was scratched from the Tramway Stakes last week due to the heavy track and therefore still hasn’t faced a track rated worse than dead in her career. A slow/heavy track here is a query but she is a class galloper and that should carry her a good way in this event.
5. BULL POINT – C Brown (8) 53kgs
Returned to racing for new trainer Chris Waller after a largely disappointing autumn campaign in the G3 Show County Handicap and was good in finishing third (2.5 lengths) behind the impressive Terravista. He had three barrier trials heading into the Show County so should be plenty fit enough for this. Has won on slow tracks in this past and with 53kgs on his back and a good first up effort under his belt, packs plenty of appeal.
6. JETSET LAD – A Allen (6) 53kgs
New Zealand galloper now with Brian Smith at Eagle Farm, who finally cracked it for a win, his first in two and a half years, when leading all the way to win the Listed Tatt’s Mile (1600m) at Doomben back in July. He backed that up with another when making his return to racing a fortnight ago, winning an Open class race by half a length with Saluter second. Up in class here but likely to push forward here and on a wet track early in the day, that could be the right position to find.
7. TOUGHER THAN EVER – J LLoyd (2)
Draw well in the Listed Rowley Mile two starts back, took up a forward position and stuck on well to finish second (half a length) behind Mr. Chard with the promising Le Amistad second and Bouzy Rouge, impressive winner of last week’s Mona Lisa Plate at Wyong, fourth. The 5yo stallion than had every chance when second (1.3 lengths) again to stable-mate Rugged Cross in a BM 95 (1500m), where he carried 58kgs. Drawn well again and should be in the box seat here. Strike rate is a concern but has fitness and wet track from on his side and has to come into calculations.
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8. CLUSTER – T Clark (4) 53kgs
Won his first two races back – both on good track – in impressive fashion and lost no admirers, despite being beaten as the 7/2 favourite, at his most recent start a fortnight ago. Drawing the second to widest gate in the field of twelve, he settled last before make a wide run around the field turning and coming down the outside. Scooting home along the fence with a charmed run was Weinholt, who bettered hime by three quarters of a length. That was his first run in five weeks and he’ll be primed now for 1400m. Hard to beat.
RACE OVERVIEW
Jetset Lad and Ninth Legion the likely leaders with Tougher Than Ever also handy. From gate four and being race fit, Cluster might settle closer to the speed here, which gives him the nod over Bull Point. Cluster has been good in each of his three starts this time in and is perfectly poised for a crack at a G2 over 1400m. Bull Point as all the ability in the world but lost his way last time in. It was good to see him back and be competitive in the Show County. That effort should see him take significant improvement and as the market suggests, there’s very little between him and Cluster. The only query on Kirramosa is the wet track. If she does get through it, she can win this but there’s not much incentive to find out when comparing her price to that of Cluster and Bull Point’s who both produced good efforts on heavy tracks at their most recent starts.
- CLUSTER
- BULL POINT
- KIRRAMOSA
- TOUGHER THAN EVER
News:
A Group One start in Melbourne will go on the line for the promising Cluster in Saturday’s Theo Marks Stakes at Rosehill.
Originally earmarked for an Epsom Handicap campaign, Cluster is likely to be redirected towards the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 28.
The shorter distance of the Melbourne feature has prompted the change of heart with trainer Peter Snowden feeling the rigours of a tough Randwick mile might not be in Cluster’s best interests.
“If he happened to run well I think the Rupert Clarke is the race I’m looking at now,” Snowden said.
“I think seven (furlongs) might be more his go rather than a mile, at this stage anyway.”
Cluster returned from a let-up with a closing second on a heavy Rosehill track last month.
Snowden has no doubt the horse will be more effective on firmer footing and despite a class rise to Group Two company on Saturday he regards the Theo Marks as being well within Cluster’s grasp.
So do bookmakers who have installed him a $2.90 favourite.
“It’s an acid test for him Saturday but he’s been going really well and I’ve been pleased with every run he’s had,” Snowden said.
“Down on the minimum weight, nice draw, you’d like to think he could travel just a little bit closer on Saturday and if he could hold a spot midfield and travel well within himself he would make his presence felt.”
Recent Chris Waller recruit Bull Point is second favourite at $3.20 while VRC Oaks winner Kirramosa has been the subject of early support, firming from $6.50 into $5.50 third pick.
The Theo Marks is an often-used lead-up race for the Epsom Handicap with Racing To Win in 2006 the last horse to claim the double.
