Import stayer Sir Delius has the Melbourne Cup earmarked as his ultimate spring target, although the exact path he will take towards Australia’s greatest race remains undecided.
Alongside stablemate Vauban and star mare Via Sistina, Sir Delius sits as an $11 equal favourite with betting sites for the famous two-mile contest.
The Group 1 placegetter kicked off his second Australian preparation with a quiet 1000-metre barrier trial at Warwick Farm last Friday, marking the start of his build-up towards November.
“It’s very early in his prep and he obviously wasn’t out there to do too much the other day, but he has come back in really good shape,” co-trainer Adrian Bott said.
“We might see him kick off in the Chelmsford Stakes or a similar type of race, so there is still a bit of time.”
Sir Delius’ only Australian start to date came in May when he claimed the Group 3 Chairman’s Handicap (2000m) at Doomben before Bott and training partner Gai Waterhouse sent him to the paddock to focus on the spring.
Connections are in no rush with the import, with Bott suggesting he could have another couple of trials before officially resuming.
“The ultimate aim is the 2025 Melbourne Cup. Everything in between is still quite open,” Bott said.
“It was a very positive first preparation for him and he seems to have come back really well.”
Stablemate Alalcance also stepped out in the same 1000-metre heat as she begins a campaign aimed at the Group 1 Metropolitan (2400m) in October.
The mare had impressed during the Sydney autumn, winning her first three starts from the front, but Bott said she had simply come to the end of her preparation when failing as favourite in the Sydney Cup (3200m).
“She had probably just reached the end of it by then, but she can show nice improvement this prep,” Bott said.
“She’s never been one to trial that flash and she was just beaten for speed the other day. We’ll see her have a few more trials before stepping out.”
Bott is equally excited about unbeaten filly Agarwood, who posted a dominant win in her 822-metre heat on Friday and is considered one of the stable’s standout three-year-old prospects.
The talented youngster is being set for the early Princess Series races, starting with the Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) on August 23.
“I would say she’s the benchmark for us,” Bott said.
“She will have another trial before resuming, but she’s definitely come on from the filly we saw in her two winter runs.”