Stephen Theodore Racing

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The 6-year-old brown mare Savsonic 'Sav' rocketed home in her first up run of the preparation to finish dead-heat first with the visiting Victorian Warparty in Race 4 yesterday at Morphettville, the Sydney McDonald Memorial 0-62 Handicap contest over the 1541m journey. After a comprehensive 3.63L win first up last campaign, Racing.Com presenter Terry Mcauliffe questioned Head Trainer Stephen Theodore post-race on what happened for the rest of that preparation, with Stephen noting it was "derailed, (we) drew wide over the carnival, just went back too far, went too wide, panicked, made a gear change, went pear shaped again, I was smart enough to abort and reset". On race tactics and instructions for this event, Stephen remarked "I said to Kayla before the race, I feel so much confidence when I have Kayla on horses that are out of form, cause she listens and I said I want you to go out and be Kayla Crowther and ride this horse how it feels, don't go forward don't go back, wherever you're happy and the horse is happy and have faith that I've got her back going well again, and proof was in the pudding". Kayla was on board the mare for her previous win first up last preparation at Penola, and hasn't been on since, as Stephen cheekily noted "she was silly and broke her collarbone, and that was the derailment of the preparation, she's back and the horse is back". Post-race, Kayla noted on the line in the driving finish that "she stuck her head out at the right time" to ensure a joint victory. Kayla remarked "it was a bit of a messy race, there was a lot of congestion, no tempo sort of injected" and that "the slow tempo probably helped her conserve it early and she's got a really good little turn of foot". The joint victory yesterday secures win number four for the mare and takes her prizemoney over the 100k mark. The daughter of Savsensation recorded the equal fastest last 600m and fastest last 200m sectionals of the race yesterday. With that effort under her belt, she should continue to prosper this preparation out in distance while retaining the services and silky hands of Kayla, which will be pleasing for Stephen, Molly, and her big band of prominent owners.

Sav Flies First-up to Secure a Dead-Heat Victory

Stephen Theodore

<div style="text-align: left;">Stephen Theodore, Molly Theodore, and STR connections celebrated the '2025 Sportsbet SA Racing Awards Night' in style last night at Morphettville.</div>
 This was an oppourtunity for the stable to be officially awarded with the 'SA Provincial Trainer Premiership' for Season 24/25. The night was very special celebrating and reflecting on the success achieved in Season 24/25 with our wonderful and supportive family and friends.

2025 Sportsbet SA Racing Awards Night - SA Provincial Trainer Premiership 24/25

The talented five-year-old mare Greenidge led from start to finish in a well rated ride from apprentice Alysha Warren to win Race 5, the BM66 1200m contest, at Naracoorte this afternoon.&nbsp; Greenidge, or Belle as she's affectionally known, was first up this preparation off only one trial and Head Trainer Stephen Theodore commented that the mare would strip fitter from the outing, however, had the capabilities to be in the finish. In the finish she was, as Warren was able to bounce Belle out of the gates well and took the initiative to be positive and find the front. The mare travelled sweetly under the hands of Warren, and the race favourite Tiz Time was stalking her coming near the home straight, however, Belle railed well and found another gear to stave off her rivals and win rather soft by just over two lengths. The market sure didn't respect the mare, allowing her to drift to the delicious odds of $10.10. The daughter of Lohnro has won four races in 2025, which is very pleasing for her owners led by Ian Bell and the Campolina Syndicate. The mare now takes her prizemoney to just over the 72k mark, added another dimension to her repertoire winning on a soft 7 track and is set for a promising preparation ahead.

Greenidge Fires First Up at Naracoorte

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<div dir="auto">STR is delighted and proud to capture our 350th career winner when Pirate won in dominant fashion at Port Augusta&nbsp;in Race 1&nbsp;on Sunday 24/08/25.</div>
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<div dir="auto">From our first career winner of&nbsp;Joffa Gem in 2003 to Count Ricardo to Crack A Roadie to Fine Future and many others in between, it has been a memorable journey, which isn't possible without amazing family, staff and owners. Head trainer Stephen is already planning to hit 400!</div>
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350 Career Wins for STR

The five-year-old bay gelding Pirate has been crowned the Port Augusta Racing Club 'Horse of the Year' for Season 2025. The son of Merchant Navy won three races at the track this season along with a second placing from four starts. He has taken his career wins to three and has now amassed just over 65k in prizemoney. Pirate found a real affinity for the dirt this season since his emphatic 8.15 length maiden victory back in June 2025, with a three-race combined winning margin of 19.28 lengths. The gelding also developed a winning combination with hoop Sairyn Fawke, and under his vigorous urgings Pirate was able to find the lead, control races and break his opponent's hearts in the process. For Pirate, his connections and STR to be afforded this accolade makes the long treks from Murray Bridge even more worthwhile. STR enjoys racing at the picturesque track and is always looking for oppourtunities to support the club by engaging runners at most meetings.&nbsp; Our thanks and gratitude must be extended to the Port Augusta Racing Club, its committee and members for another exciting and memorable racing season.

Pirate Crowned Port Augusta Horse Of The Year For 2025

It was a day for celebration at STR with a stable double at Port Augusta this afternoon, that included career win 350 for Stephen Theodore. Pirate continued his dominance of the dirt in Race 1, securing his third win for the Port Augusta Racing Season. Much like his previous wins, Sairyn Fawke got to work early on the son of Merchant Navy, and drove him to the front, where he ran his rivals ragged, kicking away around the home turn for an emphatic victory. Pirate and the Fawkelift have formed a formidable partnership in recent times and their affinity for the dirt is paying dividends for the stable and connections. It didn't take long for the stable to strike again, with The Streaker getting the job done in Race 2 under the steering of Polly Brewster. The 4-year-old bay gelding was first up for the preparation and was able to handle the dirt conditions as Stephen had hoped to break his maiden for the team at Peninsula Bloodstock. Brewster was successful in landing the gelding behind the leaders in a stalking position and she made her move rounding the home turn to head the leader and they were able to outmuscle the filly late to secure the win. The 5-year-old chestnut gelding Sumadartson rounded out the day in Race 5 and almost secured a treble for the stable when running 2nd to the well backed Jinsoku. The son of Nostradamus was admirable in defeat in his first up run for the preparation and will be one to follow next start for his big band of owners.

STR Strikes Pay Dirt with Race to Race Double At Port Augusta

🏇🔥SEASON 2️⃣4️⃣/2️⃣5️⃣ WRAP🔥🐎 📣The reimagined STR has enjoyed a very successful season🥂 📈STATS SNAPSHOT📈 4️⃣8️⃣ winners from 2️⃣4️⃣9️⃣ runners🏃&zwj;♂️ 2️⃣0️⃣%🥇Strikerate🔥 4️⃣9️⃣%🥈🥉Strikerate✅️ 💲1️⃣,2️⃣1️⃣3️⃣,4️⃣0️⃣8️⃣ Prizemoney💰 🏇STABLE STAR - FINE FUTURE🏇 🥇105k Pathways Provincial Final🔥 🥉Group3️⃣ Cummings Stakes✅️ 🐎STABLE SUCCESS🎖 🥇- Provincial Trainer Premiership🏆: 8️⃣ winners🥇at Balak @ 2️⃣9️⃣% - 7️⃣ at Murray Bridge @ 1️⃣4️⃣%; 5️⃣ at Strath @ 2️⃣1️⃣% &amp; 5️⃣ at Oakbank @ 4️⃣5️⃣% 4️⃣th - SA Trainer Premiership 💪: 8️⃣ winners🥇at Morphettville &amp; Morphettville Parks DIVINE🔥FIRE -🥇65k Series Final @ Morphettville 🏇SADDLE THAT TRAVELS🧳 Winners🥇across 2️⃣ states and on 1️⃣5️⃣ different tracks from Port Lincoln to Swan🦢Hill &amp; many more inbetween including SUZIDO -🥇 VOBIS Gold Bonus💰 @ Horsham🏇 🔥SYNDICATE SUCCESS🔥 On Fire Racing 1️⃣3️⃣ individual season winners🥇at STR🧯 Stephen Theodore, Molly Theodore, Josh Brooks-Clark &amp; the rest of the Team at STR would like to extend their thanks &amp; gratitude to all our wonderful owners &amp; connections for the support and friendship throughout the season 🚨Bring on a bigger &amp; better Season 2️⃣5️⃣/2️⃣6️⃣

STR SEASON REVIEW 24/25

The final days racing for the 24/25 Season in South Australia concluded this afternoon at Balaklava with Mandino running a commendable 3rd. It's an honour for our dedicated team at STR to share that our stable, our staff and our connections are rewarded with the 'Racing SA Provincial Trainers Premiership' for Season 24/25. The 'Provincial Premiership' saw us win 29 races from 118 starters at a formidable 24.60% strike-rate. The overall 'SA Trainer Premiership' saw us finish a delightful 4th with 46 winners from 229 starters at a strike-rate of 20.10%. These results, in the first season of the reimagined STR, are testament to the hard work, dedication, and skills of the team and the support of our wonderful owners and connections. We look forward to an even bigger Season 25/26 at STR!

STR captures the Racing SA Provincial Trainers Premiership for Season 24/25

PICTURE: Dean Yendall and Picky winning the 2400m BM64 Handicap at Swan Hill. Promising and progressive four-year-old gelding Take A Pick made the road trip to Swan Hill on Tuesday the 29th of July 2025 to take on the Victorians in the staying event of the day, a BM64 over the 2400m trip on a Heavy-9 deck. The long trek from SA proved fruitful for the STR Team, as the son of Lucas Cranach showcased his staying prowess winning by a modest four lengths under the guidance of veteran hoop Dean Yendall. Stephen Theodore commented to Racing.com post-race that "we come here with a mission, as I said the unknown was the wet track but he's staying ability, he'll just go all day". Tactics were interesting early in the event, with Picky finding the front when he's competitors were hesitant to lead, Stephen remarked "I did say to Dean be creative if you had to, if it wasn't run to suit don't bottle him up and make it messy, just get him into his rhythm, get him into a breathing regime, and just let him go". On post-race comments that Picky could end up in an Adelaide Cup one day, Stephen advised "it's about getting there rating right, you know he could even find himself down in a Tassie Cup, you know the trip away will do him the world of good". In reference to the gratitude STR has for Fiteni Thoroughbreds sending horses to the stable like Picky, Stephen remarked he's a "very green bugger, and as I say he's still learning his craft and he's got blinkers to make him go and he's got a Norton bit to make him slow down, so one day he'll have no gear on and he'll be the furnished product". The furnished product in making was the fan of the favourite backers at Swan Hill, with the short-priced commodity saluting at the odds of $2.60SP, with Stephen remarking "we got pizza money now", making the trip back to Murray Bridge even more fulfilling. The Swan Hill victory takes the lightly raced gelding's career wins to three and options aplenty over staying trips in races to come with fingers crossed that STR and Fiteni Thoroughbreds could be competing in feature staying races in the months to come.

Picky a Stayer on the Rise

PICTURE: Canyon Wind and Todd Pannell are led-in by Molly Theodore after securing victory at Balaklava on the 9th of July 2025. The lightly raced 3-year-old gelding Canyon Wind was able to break his maiden at the Balaklava mid-weeks on a bitterly cold, wet and wintery afternoon. The son of Shamoline Warrior was able to land just better than midfield with cover and was able to improve into the race at the right time and chase down the leader and hot pot Territorian in a well-timed run by Todd Pannell. It was just reward for the gelding, who was third up and had been building into his preparation with a last start third at Bordertown over the 1100m. Stephen Theodore, post-race on racing.com, advised "I got Todd to go to Bordertown and have a ride, and he said just step it up and take the earmuffs off and you'll be winning next start". That is exactly what transpired, with Canyon Wind stepping up to the 1300m, while Stephen removed the earmuffs with Todd Pannell remarking post-race on racing.com that, "that little gear change helped". It looks to be a bright future for the gelding, who is only at career start four, with Stephen advising post-race that "he's only three and he's lightly raced, so he's a nice horse in the making". The immediate plans for Canyon Wind will likely entail one more run before a spell, Stephen advised post-race that "he'll probably only have one more and I say he's done a really good job but he's going to get out to further, to a mile at least, and that's when we'll probably see the best of him". The STR team were pleased to get this result for the ownership group of Fiteni Thoroughbreds, led by John Fiteni.