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Brilliant Light to shine in Theo Marks

Sunday 5 September 2010
By Mathew Toogood

An encouraging first foray into weight-for-age racing in the Warwick Stakes has trainer Kerry Parker looking forward to the preparation ahead for Brilliant Light.

The Kembla Grange-based galloper returns to the scene of his biggest victory when he reverts to a handicap in Saturday's Group Two Theo Marks Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill.

Brilliant Light's first black type win came in the Group Two Ajax Stakes (1500m) at the venue during the autumn carnival.

Parker raised the bar with Brilliant Light first-up this time around in the Warwick Stakes (1400m) and was delighted with the gelding's sixth when he finished within 2-1/2 lengths of Sydney's best weight-for-age horses.

"He has come through the Warwick Stakes as good as gold, I'm very happy with him," Parker said.

"I certainly don't fear running him again at weight-for-age after that.

"It was a terrific run, he was not fully wound up and I thought he went super.

"He gave a lot of cheek there (in front) with Theseo and just knocked up. For his first run at weight-for-age, I went home very happy."

Theseo also tired first-up in the Warwick Stakes won by Metal Bender and finished fifth.

He showed the benefits of that run when he relegated Metal Bender to second in Saturday's Chelmsford Stakes.

Parker believes Brilliant Light will be suited in the Theo Marks but plans to give him another weight-for-age test in the Group One George Main Stakes (1600m) at Randwick at his next start.

Brilliant Light won the Listed Doncaster Prelude over the famous Randwick mile in the autumn and backed up a week later to finish a game third in the Group One Doncaster Mile.

Parker believes his stable star has come back even better than he was in the autumn.

"I would say he has (come back better) but he has to if he's going to keep stepping up, especially in weight-for-age races," Parker said.

"In the autumn he worked his way up but this time we've started straight in the deep end. There's no hiding him."

Jay Ford will continue his association with Brilliant Light in the Theo Marks which is shaping as an outstanding race.

Dual Stradbroke Handicap winner Black Piranha is set to make his spring return along with the Gerald Ryan-trained Rothesay who was impressive winning the Lord Mayors Cup and Queensland Guineas during the Brisbane winter carnival.

Group One winning mare More Joyous, who lumped 59kg to a first-up win in the Listed Sheraco Stakes, is also expected to be among the Theo Marks nominations.