Theseo could be a shock starter in Saturday's Group One Doncaster Mile pending a crucial track gallop at Randwick on Tuesday morning.The multiple Group One winner was expected to bypass the famous Randwick showpiece in favour of next weekend's Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) but trainer Gai Waterhouse has reconsidered her options."We're sitting on the fence at the moment and we'll wait and see how he works in the morning," Waterhouse's racing manager Mark Webbey said."The door was always open (to
Theseo could be a shock starter in Saturday's Group One Doncaster Mile pending a crucial track gallop at Randwick on Tuesday morning.
The multiple Group One winner was expected to bypass the famous Randwick showpiece in favour of next weekend's Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) but trainer Gai Waterhouse has reconsidered her options.
"We're sitting on the fence at the moment and we'll wait and see how he works in the morning," Waterhouse's racing manager Mark Webbey said.
"The door was always open (to run in the Doncaster), he was always paid up for, it was all dependent on the horse.
"He's done much better than we thought he would have but the horse will tell us tomorrow whether we should run him."
Waterhouse has won the Doncaster (1600m) six times, most recently with Grand Armee in 2003.
It would be an amazing training feat if she could claim it again with Theseo who would be coming back 800m in distance after finishing fourth to Littorio in The BMW (2400m) on April 3.
Theseo is the highest weighted horse still in contention with 58kg, an impost last carted to victory by mighty mare Sunline eight years ago.
Webbey, a former chief handicapper for Racing NSW, said he felt Theseo was handily placed at the weights.
"I think he's treated well," Webbey said.
If the six-year-old does line up in the Doncaster he will have to get the job done without regular rider Nash Rawiller.
Rawiller was booked to partner the Chris Waller-trained equal second favourite Rangirangdoo when the Waterhouse stable indicated Theseo would miss the Doncaster and run in the Queen Elizabeth.
However, as Waterhouse's stable rider, Rawiller also had a commitment to partner Theseo throughout his autumn campaign.
It is understood Rawiller phoned Waller to advise him of the situation and Waller in turn called on stewards to adjudicate.
"The stewards accepted that after Theseo competed in the Group 1 BMW at Rosehill Gardens on the 3 April 2010 that Nash Rawiller was advised that Theseo's program was then to next race in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick on Saturday 24 April 2010," stewards said in a statement.
"Whilst the stewards were satisfied that Nash Rawiller held an engagement to ride Theseo throughout the autumn racing carnival, they ruled that he was entitled to taker (sic) another ride."
Waterhouse has yet to lock in a replacement rider.
Theseo is Waterhouse's only possible Doncaster runner.
Gold Water was being considered for a start but Webbey confirmed she would instead head to the Emancipation Stakes a week later.
Waterhouse will be represented in the remaining two Group One races at Randwick on Saturday with Once Were Wild in the AJC Oaks (2400m) and Swift Alliance in The Galaxy (1100m).