Theo Marks Stakes

THEO MARKS STAKES:

The Theo Marks Stakes is one of the leading Group 2 thoroughbred races conducted as part of the prestigious Sydney Spring Racing Carnival.

Conducted at the scenic Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in early September each year by the Sydney Turf Club (STC), the Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes is a quality handicap event run over a 1,300m sprint distance.

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Worth a lucrative $200,000, the Theo Marks Stakes is the headline race at the Rosehill spring meeting and is accompanied by two other group status events on the day.

The other group races run on Theo Marks Stakes Day are the Group 3 Research Stakes (1200m) and the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m), making this a thrilling day for punters!

Horses that contest the Theo Marks Stakes often continue on to other Sydney spring features including the Group 2 Shannon Stakes (1500m) the following week.

The race is also an excellent lead-up to the premier events at the carnival including the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick in early October.

Smart punters looking to make some good money during the spring should keep an eye on the winners and placegetters in the Theo Marks Stakes before checking out the early betting markets open on the Epsom Handicap at online bookmakers.

The Theo Marks Stakes has been a good guide to the Epsom Handicap in recent times with Racing To Win taking out the double in 2006, and Theo Marks Stakes runner-up in 2009 Rock Kingdom progressing on to win the Epsom Handicap the same year.

History

First conducted in 1946, the inaugural Theo Marks Stakes was won by Shannon when it was a Principal race run over seven furlongs.

When Australia converted to the metric system, the distance of the Theo Marks Stakes was changed to 1,400m in 1973.

In 1979 the race was elevated to its current Group 2 status, attracting a higher quality of gallopers than ever before.

Less than a decade later the race distance was shortened by 100m and from 1985 – 1989 was run over 1,300m.

For two years in 1990 and 1991 the Theo Marks Stakes was held over 1,280m, before reverting back to 1,300m in 1992.

In 2007 the Theo Marks Stakes, along with all the other Sydney spring races, was not held due to the outbreak of the equine influenza.

Past Winners

Many excellent sprinters have claimed victory in the Theo Marks Stakes over history, including Shogun Lodge (2001) and dual winner Racing To Win (2006 & 2009).

Below is a list of the most recent Theo Marks Stakes winners.