Caesar Reigns Supreme In Finals Day Victory - 22nd Nov 2025

Oxford Blue, or Caesar as he's affectionally known, rallied in the very wet conditions to fight back and claim victory in Race 3, the 65k Sportsbet Country Mile Final at Morphettville yesterday.

The well fancied $2.80 pop was the one the punters wanted to be on, however, the stable where anxious leading in due to the inclement weather of the day. In driving rain, Campbell Rawiller was able to propel the bay gelding forward and lead the race with pressure at their girth, Rawiller attempted to gain a breather mid race, which saw him get a trail behind the mid race leader. Rawiller got to work on the gelding rounding the home turn and the job appeared difficult as Crown Mint headed and went past Caesar, however, the strength and skills of Rawiller coupled with the fight and tenacity of Caesar saw them lift off the canvas to score a gutsy win.

Relief and sense of achievement flooded Head Trainer Stephen Theodore post-race, as the long-range plan to pull off another Finals Day victory appeared to be playing to script race week, however, was severely tempered on race day with the persistent rain that wouldn't subside.

Post-race with Terry McAuliffe, Theodore provided insight into his mindset leading in, commenting "it's a hard day today, this horse he went so bad for me his first start on a soft track, then I went to Mildura and proved that he can run 3rd, it was dry tracks we tipped him out, and we had it all set, then the rain come".

Theodore provided further insight into Caesar's preferred conditions and how the race played out in transit from his unique perspective, stating when "working him at home on the Good 3 at Murray Bridge, which is nearly every Tuesday, he's so electric, and as soon as you sort of soften those tracks up he's just dour, and even Cam, and I'm going to say that's a brilliant ride, but when he let that horse go around him you know I haven't had a smoke for 11 years but I was looking for a bunger, I was that desperate.

Theodore paid homage to Caesar's influential owner, remarking with gratitude that "Rob Cummings is a very influential person in racing, I ended up with a horse with good form and wrecked it in two starts and now I'm rectifying it".

Theodore took time to take stock, reflect on what was achieved, and pay respect to the STR Team stating "I'm as proud as punch, because it's Finals Day and Sports Bet Finals Day and South Australia's chance to showcase after a wonderful spring", on the STR team, Theodore named the team individually jokingly stating "they all make me look good, without hair and teeth", "what a great result for everybody".

The STR team can proudly boast that on three separate Finals Day's the stable has secured three different victories; Divine Fire, Fine Future and now Oxford Blue. It is vitally important that the team target these events, with the rich prizemoney on offer, to ensure owners are receiving the maximum benefits.

Caesar has now secured victory number three along with six other placings in his short but consistent career to date. That important Finals Day win also propels the gelding's prizemoney to just shy of the 135k mark.

The four-year-old son of Fiorente will now likely tackle the Bordertown Cup in the coming weeks, hoping to add more Silverware to the mantle for Rob and connections.