Jockey Beau Mertens kept his unbeaten record intact on Theophilus who has now won his last two starts at Bendigo.
The former Hong Kong galloper is enjoying farm life at Hirsch Park and progressed from his last start maiden victory to land Wednesday’s DeAraugo & Lea Electrical 0-64 Hcp (1600m).
Both his wins have been over 1600 metres, and he is showing encouraging signs of settling better in his races.
“I think he went better today,” trainer Vincent Malady said after his latest win.
“Last start he got to the lead a little bit early and over-raced, but today he relaxed a lot better and looked better having that last crack at them.”
Theophilus settled just off midfield and while he raced some distance with his mouth open, became more tractable in the middle stages.
The $4.80 second favourite switched through his gears making up four lengths in the final 200 metres to get up on the line to claim Placentia Bay ($7) in a photo, with Late Arrival ($13) two lengths away third.
The win impressed Beau Mertens.
“He seems to be improving,” Beau said. “He’s a horse who gets over-racing a touch but his manners have improved and is starting to put it all together.
“He had a bit to do (four lengths off them) in the straight, but he chased well to get up.”
Owned by Eden Wong and Anita Chu, Theophilus is a son of Teofilo and five-time winning Zabeel mare Hot Augusta, making him a half-brother to the highly talented Fastnet Rock mare Carina Queen, who is Group 2 placed over 1600m and last spring finished sixth in the Gr1 MRC Thousand Guineas. (1600m).