Australia: Theo Legion back at favorite course for Quirindi Cup

Theo Legion, the 4-year-old Australian gelding, has raced at a variety of smaller tracks in the state of New South Wales in 22 starts since the beginning of his career in January 2020.

He has found success at one venue – Quirindi Racecourse, about 175 miles north of Sydney. Theo Legion is perfect in three starts at Quirindi, a record that will be tested in Friday’s Quirindi Cup at a mile.

Theo Legion has not raced at Quirindi in eight starts, since a win in a one-mile handicap in late June. This has already been a busy campaign during the Australian summer for Theo Legion, who has had six starts since returning from a layoff of more than four months in December.

Trained by Paul Perry, Theo Legion was a decent third in a one-mile handicap at Gosford Racecourse on Feb. 3, closing from sixth in a field of seven to finish 2 3/4 lengths behind pacesetter Sonic Tycoon.

The Quirindi Cup drew a field of 11. With contenders such as Acrophobic and Notabadidea often racing near the front, Theo Legion should be well-placed for a late run.

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Quirindi has an eight-race program beginning at 9 p.m. Eastern or 6 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

The race lacks a clear favorite, although Acrophobic, Notabadidea, or Theo Legion could emerge as the public choice.

This will be the 57th start for Notabadidea who won the Gilgandra Cup at a mile at Gilgandra Racecourse on Jan. 2 in his most recent start.

Acrophobic finished fifth of nine in a six-furlong handicap at Tamworth on Jan. 20 in his first start since July at a distance shorter than what he may prefer. Acrophobic ran in graded and listed level stakes in early 2021 without success and seems better suited to a race such as the Quirindi Cup.