As Deakin journeys to Adelaide for a pending Stakes race, trainer Phillip Stokes intends to apply a technique that proved fruitful for Lindsay Park.

On May 9, the gelding begins his two-race winter series in the Group 3 The Cummings Stakes (1600m), a move Stokes expects to build a strong foundation for the spring.

Formerly the R A Lee Stakes, the Bart Cummings was the go-to race for Colin Hayes and David Hayes to debut imported stayers before a rest period targeting spring targets.

Hong Kong trainer David Hall followed suit, as did Lloyd Williams for his Melbourne Cup preparations.

Deakin has been inactive since his eighth in last season’s Caulfield Cup, barred from the Melbourne Cup by Racing Victoria veterinary measures.

He trialled 1500m at Caulfield Heath last Thursday, readying for next Saturday week’s race before the Listed Lord Mayor’s Cup (2000m) at Rosehill on May 30.

“He’s been away six months and an operation to put screws in his fetlocks,” Stokes said.

“That was his second jump-out and he’ll go to Adelaide on the ninth of May and go around in the Bart Cummings over a mile which will be a good starting point for him.

“It will only be a two-run prep and then he’ll head up to Sydney to run in the Lord Mayor’s Cup and then he’ll have a little break and get him ready for the spring.

“All things being equal and if we’re happy with him, we’ll put him on a Caulfield Cup path once again, not Melbourne Cup.”

Stokes refuses to risk Deakin for the Melbourne Cup under Racing Victoria’s vet rules after last year’s disagreement.

“They said he had some changes in his fetlocks,” Stokes said.

“We couldn’t get a reaction out of him, but that’s what they said, so we had to follow protocol, and we’ve done everything they told us to do, but it set us back a long way.

“They told us to put screws in him and when international horses want to come here with screws in them, they’re not allowed to run.

“My vet and I didn’t agree with them, and we thought he was going better than ever.

“I had a horse, Daqiansweet Junior, and he wasn’t sound, but he was OK to run.

“He ran well in the Caulfield Cup last year and didn’t have a great run in it, but I’m not convinced he’s a two-miler anyway.”

Following Sydney, light work and paddock rest await Deakin, Stokes noted.

“I didn’t want him having almost a year off, it takes them too long to come back,” Stokes said.

“I remember Jeune ran in this race, Beldale Ball, Water Boatman and when I first started training, Lloyd Williams used to bring his horses over, give them one run, and then start again.

“It’s a nice track to give him his start for his spring campaign.”

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