For Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Saturday’s Chelmsford Stakes is less about the end goal and more about gaining clarity on the spring campaigns of their high-class imports Vauban and Sir Delius. Both gallopers will use the Randwick mile as the launch point for preparations aimed squarely at the Melbourne Cup.

The 1600m trip will be unfamiliar territory, with neither horse having competed over such a short distance previously. Sir Delius announced himself with a brilliant 2000m win at Doomben in May – his first Australian outing – while Vauban showed his class during the autumn with a Group 3 success and a Group 1 placing for the stable.

Bott is eager to see how the pair present under race conditions, even if the distance is likely to test their speed. “They have trialled up really well respectively going into it,” Bott said. “It’s fair to say the mile is probably going to be a bit short for them both first-up but I feel they’re set for nice campaigns. They’re in really good order and they can run a nice race fresh but no doubt it’s still a long way from their main targets and they are much better suited going over a bit further.”

In futures markets for the Melbourne Cup (3200m), the two stablemates share the second line of betting at $11. Vauban brings with him experience from the past two editions, although he failed to make an impression for Willie Mullins in either attempt.

Bott confirmed they are unlikely to cross paths again at their next run. “Sir Delius will most likely head straight down to Melbourne and there are a few different options we can take within those paths, depending on what we see first-up and where we feel we need to get to in order to get to the Melbourne Cup,” he said. Vauban, meanwhile, is expected to stay in Sydney for his next outing.

Bookmakers have marked Ceolwulf a dominant favourite at even money for the Chelmsford, while Sir Delius sits as a $4 second elect with Vauban rated an $11 chance with the bookies.