Theism Scores at Provincials
Canberra - November 29, 2009 - Exciting youngster Theism broke its maiden with a strong performance in the nation's capital - aided by a classic, patient ride from veteran Kevin Sweeney.
The three-year-old filly by Baerami's Stradbroke Handicap winner, Danasinga, went around at $20-plus but proved too good for her rivals over the six-furlongs.
Theism sprung out of the gates and Sweeney found the paint immediately before allowing the speedsters to cross and take up the running while he enjoyed the cosiest of positions.
Approcahing the turn, others were stoking up their mounts but Sweeney sat patient and let the field cruise up to Theism before calling for an effort around the 250m.
At just her third start the filly showed all the race-manners of a seasoned horse, sticking to the paint and rallying along the inside to go back past her rivals, then pull away to score by almost three lengths in 1:11.16.
In the same race, fellow youngster Miss Martha - also by Danasinga - produced an eye-catcher to run into fifth place.
Miss Martha drew an awful gate, was forced back in the field and trapped wide through the run. But she sprinted well in the run home, had to change paths a number of times but took plenty of ground off the front pack to fail by just three lengths.
Cavanough also unveiled an interesting runner for the stable on Canberra Cup day, his juvenile Mercenaire.
The chestnut gelding is by Choisir and out of Sheedy's Sheila - a horse with close ties to the stable.
Before retiring to stud, the Keltrice mare raced in the black and pink colours of the stable winning four races over sprint distances including a city scalp at Warwick Farm.
A product of speed-on-speed, Mercenaire is sure to give the stable some thrills in the future.
