Chris Waller has both Bull Point and Tougher Than Ever in the 2014 Theo Marks Stakes field and he believes that Bull Point is his best chance of winning the race for the second year in a row.
Bull Point has the chance to record his first race win since he joined the Waller stable in the Theo Marks Stakes. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Bull Point returned to the races with a promising third in the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) at Royal Randwick on August 23, while Tougher Than Ever has finished second in his past two starts including the Listed Rowley Mile (1600m) at Hawkesbury on August 21.
Despite the consistent recent form of Tougher Than Ever, Waller rates Bull Point as his best chance in the Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes (1400m) and he told Racing Ahead that the General Nediym entire will produce an improved performance on a better surface at Rosehill Gardens tomorrow.
“Bull Point is my pick here,” Waller said.
“He is a very good horse and he looks well.
“He ran well enough first-up on a heavy track and I think that he will improve on a better track tomorrow.
“I am hoping that he can fly the flag there.”
Another stable that will have two runners in the Theo Marks Stakes is Team Hawkes; with Ninth Legion and Zephyron set to return to the races in the Group 2 event.
Zephyron will be returning to the races for the first time since he finished third in the Group 2 Brisbane Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm on June 7 and co-trainer Wayne Hawkes is hoping that the Zabeel gelding can produce a solid first-up performance as he heads towards the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) on October 4.
“Zephyron is another one that doesn’t like the wet tracks,” Hawkes told Racing Ahead.
“We really wanted to keep him in Sydney and go through his progression that way and maybe even end up in a Metrop or something like that.
“Then he will come to Melbourne.
“He was third in the Brisbane Cup and he has been a good addition to the stable.
“He is going super, but tomorrow they will be a bit too sharp for him.”
Bull Point is currently on the second line of the 2014 Theo Marks Stakes betting market with Ladbrokes at a quote of $3.20 and Ninth Legion has been backed into $9, while Tougher Than Ever ($10) and Zephyron ($11) are both available at double figure Theo Marks Stakes odds.
