Then in 1967, Theo was presented with the opportunity by one of his New Zealand owners, an American, Jim Keele, to train for him on a two year contract at a property he had purchased in Mornington known then as Nantilla Stud on Three Chain Road (now Moorooduc Hwy). So in January 1968, Theo moved his wife Pamela and four children, Barry, Ian, Denise and Raewyn, and a small team of horses to Nantilla Stud, Mornington to take on Australia. For two years at Nantilla Stud and then from 1970 at his own property, National Lodge in Racecourse Road, Mornington, Theo had great success with many horses and although he was stamped as a top jumps trainer, he was also a very successful trainer on the flat with the most successful horse he trained being King Pheonix in the early 1980’s when Theo was in his 50’s. Theo retired in 2005 and during his racing career spanning close to 60 years, he trained more than 800 Group and Listed winners on both sides of the Tasman and his training accomplishments ranged from the 1100m Group 1 Oakleigh Plate on the flat, to the 4500m South Australian Grand National Steeplechase. In New Zealand, he trained the winner of the first ever running of the Queen Elizabeth Handicap in 1953 with the newly crowned Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh on course. In Australia, he trained for the likes of Sir Reginald Ansett, the then State Premier Sir Henry Bolte and VRC Chairman Sir Rupert Steele, but his main owner was Sir Wally Broderick, who owned Bart Cummings first Melbourne Cup Winner Light Fingers in 1965, and for whom Theo trained more than 50 winners. Most Notable Horses King Phoenix – Group 1 Marlboro Cup (Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes), Group 1 Elders Mile (Toorak Handicap), Group 1 Craiglee Stakes (Makybe Diva Stakes) Gleaming Waters – Group 1 Oakleigh Plate Vernet – A V Hiskens Steeplechase, Great Eastern Steeplechase Summer Flight & Brother Bart – Grand National Double Ramlegh – Grand National Steeplechase, Australian Hurdle Yrangie – 2 x MacDonald Steeplechase, 2 x Crisp Steeplechase Most Notable Race List - Australia VRC Grand National Hurdle Australian Hurdle 2 x VRC Grand National Steeplechase 2 x Hisken Steeplechase 2 x Crisp Steeplechase 2 x MacDonald Steeplechase G1 Oakleigh Plate, Marlboro Cup (Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes), Elders Mile (Toorak Handicap), Craiglee Stakes (Makybe Diva Stakes)
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