Theo Marks Stakes at Rosehill – 13 September 2008

The $200,000 Group 2 Myer Theo Marks Stakes for three-year-olds and upwards over 1300 metres has attracted a field of eleven. The early favourite is Hoystar who has won six of his 12 starts and had three placings. His favouritism is based on his first-up second behind Bank Robber on 23 August, as Bank Robber followed that up with a devastating win in the Tramway. Hoystar will be ridden by Glen Boss who won the 2006 Theo Marks with Racing To Win (there was no 2007 running due to Equine Influenza) the 2001 race on Shogun Lodge and the 1993 race on Double Your Bet.

The second favourite is the topweight Mentality who is a weight-for-age performer and will carry 57kg. At his first run this campaign he came last of five in the Premiere Stakes. Trainer John Hawkes won this race in 2005 with Paratroopers and in 2000 he won with Hire. Corey Brown will be having his first race ride on Mentality after riding the gelding to a trial win at Rosehill on 2 September.

Third favourite is Forensics. She won the Golden Slipper in 2007, the 2008 Queen Of The Turf Stakes and the Golden Rose, and has amassed over $3 million in prizemoney. She will be having her first start for 140 days and Kerrin McEvoy will ride her. She goes well first-up and the distance will suit.

Next in the betting is the Gai Waterhouse trained Theseo who rocketed home from the tail of the field to finish fifth behind Typhoon Zed in the Concorde Stakes at his first start this campaign. Blake Shinn has been given approval to ride Theseo a half kilo over weight at 53kg instead of 52.5kg. All Silent is close behind in the betting and is a lightly raced gelding with only six starts. He is a very interesting runner as in the autumn he went from restricted company to a win in the Group 3 Ajax Stakes. He won a Warwick Farm trial on 29 August.

The Theo Marks Stakes was first run in 1946 and has had Group 2 status since 1979. The last mare to win was Mamzelle Pedrille in 1996.

by Jo Jackson