Magic Man Joao Moreira has produced undoubtedly his best ride of the day to see resuming staying Mackintosh take out the Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse.
Mackintosh flew home to win the Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes first-up this afternoon. Photo: Steve Hart
Jumping from the gates well, Moreira allowed Mackintosh to stride forward and take an ideal position in transit on the heels of early leaders Vashka, Oxford Poet and Tycoon Tara; who ensured plenty of tempo would be injected into the Theo Marks Stakes from the outset.
Receiving an ideal run in transit, Moreira threaded the needle with the horse in the final straight and was greeted with a huge turn of foot; the Pins gelding savaging the line to beat stable mate Counterattack and clear race favourite Southern Legend.
Moreira was thrilled with the effort mustered by Mackintosh to win the Theo Marks Stakes and believes the horse will only take improvement from the run.
“He’s still very green,” Moreira said.
“He’s got a lot of ability at the same time and he made out in a good fashion today.
“It feels like the longer that it gets, the better it will be for him. I loved being on top of him today.”
Trainer Chris Waller has been thrilled with Mackintosh’s condition since his return to the stable this time, and revealed that the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on October 1st will be the horse’s next point of call.
“He’s been a good horse,” Waller said after the race.
“The only start he’s failed in was the (Queensland) Derby for our stable, every other start has been a win.
“He’s obviously a horse with talent and he’s gone to a new level today, performing like that in a Group 2 field of good sprinters.
“A mile was always the plan, second-up into the Epsom. He’ll stick firmly towards that.
“We knew he would be suspect in the Derby and he struck a track that he didn’t appreciate, so that was a little inconclusive. I think a mile will be perfect second-up.”
In taking out the 2016 Theo Marks Stakes, Mackintosh has extended his career record to six wins through only nine competitive starts.
