Theseo has stamped himself as a leading contender for Horse of the Year honours with a wonderful frontrunning display to win the Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill, his third Group One of the season.Niconero, the only other horse to have won three Group One races this term including the Australian Cup where he beat Theseo in the last stride, is in Dubai to race at next week's World Cup meeting while Theseo is scheduled to compete in the Doncaster Mile on April 18.Punters forgave Theseo his last defeat an

Theseo has stamped himself as a leading contender for Horse of the Year honours with a wonderful frontrunning display to win the Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill, his third Group One of the season.

Niconero, the only other horse to have won three Group One races this term including the Australian Cup where he beat Theseo in the last stride, is in Dubai to race at next week's World Cup meeting while Theseo is scheduled to compete in the Doncaster Mile on April 18.

Punters forgave Theseo his last defeat and sent him out as $2.50 favourite in the Ranvet (2000m).

Stewards have not forgiven Newport who dumped Dan Nikolic as he jumped out of the barrier, the second time in three starts he has dropped a rider and he will have to trial again.

There were no problems with Theseo with Nash Rawiller jumping him straight to the front and dictating the pace to suit himself.

Melbourne Cup winner Viewed ($4.80) made a charge down the outside but Rawiller had timed things perfectly and had plenty left in the final 100 metres to go on to win by 1-1/4 lengths with the runner-up's stablemate Moatize a neck third.

"He is an outstanding individual," Theseo's trainer Gai Waterhouse said.

"I admire him so much. He takes up the running and dares the others to catch him.

"He is so tough."

While Theseo will go back in distance, Viewed and Moatize are heading to the BMW (2400m) in two weeks.

Blake Shinn, who rode Viewed in the Melbourne Cup, steered him along the rail midrace before bringing him wide in the straight.

"I've just got three words," Shinn said.

"B-M-W."

Trainer Bart Cummings is also looking forward to the BMW but believes the Ranvet was there for the taking.

"No-one took the leader on, there wasn't enough pace," Cummings said.

"Both my horses will be in the BMW and they will be the dangers to each other."

The win was consolation for Rawiller who lost the ride on Golden Slipper favourite More Joyous to Darren Beadman after her buckjumping display in the Silver Slipper.

More Joyous redeemed herself in Saturday's Reisling Stakes with Beadman aboard but Rawiller was more than happy after Theseo's win.

"The last one in the Australian Cup was so disappointing," he said.

"He was not that happy on the dead track today.

"I wasn't going to get caught early and I made sure there was something left.

"I knew Viewed was there but my horse had him covered."

Vision And Power ran his usual honest race to finish fourth, 1-3/4 lengths from the winner.