Trainer Gary Nickson is adamant Theophorus handles heavy tracks and believes the grey will prove him right at Randwick despite his previous defeats.Nickson is buoyed by Theophorus carrying 54kg and having in-form apprentice Daniel Ganderton aboard in Saturday's Arrowfield Stud Handicap (1600m).Randwick was rated a heavy nine on Friday following more than 44mm of rain in the past couple of days.Four-year-old Theophorus comes into the race after running 2-1/2 lengths second to Melbourne "swimmer"

Trainer Gary Nickson is adamant Theophorus handles heavy tracks and believes the grey will prove him right at Randwick despite his previous defeats.

Nickson is buoyed by Theophorus carrying 54kg and having in-form apprentice Daniel Ganderton aboard in Saturday's Arrowfield Stud Handicap (1600m).

Randwick was rated a heavy nine on Friday following more than 44mm of rain in the past couple of days.

Four-year-old Theophorus comes into the race after running 2-1/2 lengths second to Melbourne "swimmer" Scenic Scene on a heavy (10) at Randwick on June 20.

Theophorus, who started $2.35 favourite, carried 55kg, 3-1/2 kilos less than the winner.

A week earlier he hauled 56.5kg when third to Prince Braeman (53.5kg) on a dead Rosehill track after finishing second to the same horse on a heavy (8) at the same venue on May 30.

"The last couple of runs on heavy going he's just bumped into a couple of swimmers," Nickson said.

"He gets through it. This is the lowest weight he's carried in a while with Ganderton claiming (1.5kg) and he's in this up to his boots."

Theophorus boasts an impressive record of seven wins and four placings from 16 starts but is yet to win from three attempts on heavy tracks.

"He's thrived since that last run. He's had a quiet time and has put a couple of kilos on and his work has been sensational," Nickson said.

Nickson resisted the temptation to run Theophorus in last Saturday's Listed Civic Stakes at Rosehill.

"I missed that because I knew this race would be weaker," Nickson said.

Theophorus has drawn ideally in barrier eight.

"He doesn't like inside alleys and being cluttered up, this alley will suit him and he'll just be bopping along in third or fourth," Nickson said.

"He's the sort of horse who doesn't like to sit and sprint, he has to work into it and he just keeps coming.

"I've got all the faith in the world in Daniel, he's a good kid to talk to and does his form back to front."

Nickson said Theophorus would not back up in the Winter Stakes at Rosehill a week later.

"We'll save him a 1800 metre race at Randwick the week after," Nickson said.

"Then I'd like to try him over 2000 or 2100 metres and see how he goes over that sort of trip before we put him away for the spring."

Ganderton celebrated a winning treble at Randwick on Wednesday, matching his feat from Eagle Farm the Saturday before which included a win on Battlefield in the Listed Ascot Handicap and a Queensland Cup victory on Cape Breton.