Trainer Phillip Stokes had originally set his sights on the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) as the spring starting point for Deakin, but a change of plans will see the stayer resume in an easier assignment at Caulfield this weekend.
Instead of lining up against a star-studded field of 10 Group 1 winners in the Memsie, Deakin will launch his Melbourne Cup preparation in the Sportsbet Feed Handicap (1400m) on the same program.
Stokes said the softer option would give the gelding the right platform to build into his main spring targets.
“I didn’t realise there was a benchmark 100 over the same trip on the same day,” Stokes said.
“I doubt he could win either race, so the benchmark 100 is an easier race, so we’ll kick him off in that and he’ll get just as much benefit from it.
“I didn’t think he needed a real high-pressure 1400-metre race to start off in, so we’ll switch to that and then revert to our original plan.
“Everything is all good, and we don’t have to pay a fortune to accept.”
From there, Deakin’s program will follow the original path into the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 13, the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) on October 4, and the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 18.
The ultimate aim is the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) on November 4, for which Deakin already holds a ballot exemption thanks to his win in The Roy Higgins (2600m) in March.
While Stokes noted that wet conditions were not ideal, he remains confident the gelding will finish off strongly regardless.
“He’s better on top of the ground,” Stokes said.
“His first trial (this campaign) was on the wet and he didn’t really like it, but I couldn’t be happier with the way the horse is going.
“His work on Tuesday was very sharp.”
Punters eyeing Deakin’s path towards the Melbourne Cup can find futures odds and markets through leading betting sites.