Theodore’s renaissance to continue with exciting prospect

Stephen Theodore’s career-best season shows no signs of slowing down with the reinvigorated trainer set to saddle up five horses at Morphettville on Saturday.

A multiple Stakes winner when he trained successfully in Victoria, Theodore has hit the ground running since opening an on-course barn at Murray Bridge in mid-2024.

His current season tally of wins sits at 44 – already six more than his previous best of 38 wins during the 2010/11 season – and he boasts a potent strike rate of 22%.

He said the success, which has been achieved alongside his wife Molly and father Les, has eclipsed even his boldest predictions when he decided to revive his training career.

“It’s been phenomenal,” Theodore said.

“12 months ago, when we had one horse in work, nobody in their wildest dreams could think that a year later we’d have 22 in work, a full barn and nearing 50 winners for the season.

“We’re a bit gobsmacked but we’re running with the tide and hopefully it continues.”

Of his Saturday quintet, Theodore believes newcomer Oxford Blue shapes as his best winning prospect.

The three-year-old emerged as a potential Derby contender earlier this season for Cranbourne horseman Julius Sandhu but connections made the switch to South Australia after an unplaced run behind Politely Dun at Flemington in May.

Theodore said he’s seen enough in the gelding’s recent trackwork to suggest he can account for the older horses in the Benchmark 68 handicap over 1800m.

“I think Oxford Blue is the most exciting horse we’ve attracted since we started training,” he said.

“A lot of horses we get we’ve got to turn their form around but this horse comes with really good credentials and really good form.

“It just takes a bit of pressure of my shoulders that I don’t have to pull a rabbit out of the hat on Inglis Digital every month.

“Hopefully we’ve earned a bit of respect and reputation that people are happy to send us horses like this.

“He’s drawn great, he’s got Todd Pannell on and I can’t see why he won’t turn up and run a mighty race for us.

“We expect him to win.

“The only reservation I’ve got about him on Saturday is that we’re going to learn.

“The best part of his work in everything he does, whether it’s fast work or slow, is the last 100m so I can see why they thought he might get out over a trip.

“If he’s nice and sharp over 1800m and puts them away, I won’t be in a hurry to step him past 2000m because there are plenty of races in South Australia around that distance.”

Thedore expects another former Victorian Adonis Kick to out-perform his odds first-up in a 0-64 handicap over 1540m.

The son of Scissor Kick pulled up lame in his only run for the stable in December but has completed much of his recent trackwork alongside Oxford Blue.

“I just know Adonis Kick is going to run a race at big odds,” he said.

“He’s been sparring partner to Oxford Blue for the last month.

“He’s coming off a last start failure when he pulled up sore so we gave him a good spell and he’s come back well.

“He’s ticked a lot of boxes going into Saturday.”