Deakin is set to commence his charge towards Caulfield Cup glory with his first-up run at Caulfield on Saturday.
With the Melbourne Cup now out of reach for the French-bred stayer, trainer Phillip and Tommy Stokes are completely focused on Deakin’s preparation.
The Listed Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) this Saturday leads into the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on September 19, followed by the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 3.
The Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 17 is earmarked as Deakin’s primary spring assignment, a race where he finished eighth last year.
However, after last year’s Caulfield Cup, Phillip Stokes had been planning an attempt at the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington, but the gelding was disqualified under Racing Victoria’s veterinary protocols.
Unwilling to undergo that process again, the Caulfield Cup is now the sole focus.
Deakin has only had one start since last year’s Caulfield Cup, finishing fifth in the Bart Cummings (1600m) at Morphettville in May.
This was a planned campaign, featuring a light autumn to have the gelding at peak form for spring, and the Stokes father-son team was pleased with the gelding’s recent trial, finishing third at Caulfield Heath on August 19.
“He had his second trial at Caulfield last week,” Phillip Stokes reported.
“He hasn’t raced since the Bart Cummings Stakes in Adelaide, and we pulled up after that, so it’s nearly been a year off, but I’m feeling he’s going as well as ever.
“Last prep, first-up 1400 metres, so the 1700 suits this time first-up, but I think he will need the run just to bring him on for his second-up assignment, but I couldn’t have been any happier with his trial.”
Last year’s campaign began over 1400m, progressed to 1700m, and then he produced an impressive run in the Turnbull Stakes third-up.
“We’re doing a similar campaign again to the Caulfield Cup,” Stokes confirmed.
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