Imported star Sir Delius will continue his path toward spring glory when he lines up in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington, keeping alive the Melbourne Cup dream of owner Sir Owen Glenn.
Currently favourite for the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) on November 4, Sir Delius is among 66 horses still in contention for the famous two-mile event following Tuesday’s first acceptances.
Trainer Gai Waterhouse revealed Glenn had set her three major targets at the start of the year.
“He said to me at the start of the year you’ve got three things – win me a Golden Slipper, which I’ve done that, win me a Cox Plate, I said I haven’t done that, and win me a Melbourne Cup and I said I’ll work on it,” Waterhouse said.
“He’s at stage of his life, he travels around the world, he loves sport and to be able to pull this off for him would be a dream come true for him and the other owners.
“And it would be nice to get both of them.”
Waterhouse and Adrian Bott provided Glenn with a Golden Slipper triumph last year courtesy of Lady Of Camelot, while his colours were carried to placings in both the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup in 2015 by Criterion. Sir Delius, who cost “big bucks” to secure, is following a program modelled on Fiorente’s 2013 Cup-winning path.
Instead of tackling the Group 1 Might And Power (2000m), Sir Delius will contest the Turnbull Stakes before heading to the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley, and then onto the Melbourne Cup at Flemington.
Waterhouse sees strong similarities between Sir Delius and Fiorente.
“In his temperament, the size of the horse and his demeanour,” Waterhouse said.
“He’s a very handsome horse and Fiorente was a handsome horse and a very nice horse to train.
“I have never won a Cox Plate, so it would be a dream come true and he’s a horse that could do that as he’s got a wonderful turn of foot as we saw at Caulfield.”
Sir Delius galloped solo on the Flemington course proper on Tuesday, stretching out over the last 1200m.
“I thought he worked very well,” Waterhouse said.
“He was leisurely in his gallop, but very happy and I liked the way he went right through the line.
“After his Underwood win he looks bigger and stronger and pulled up in good condition. You like them to be at their winning weight, and he certainly looks good.
“The people paid a lot of money for the horse and it’s nice when they deliver.
“He’s on the right track for the Melbourne Cup which was the whole point of why we bought him.”
Last year’s Cup hero Knight’s Choice was a notable omission from first acceptances after a strangles outbreak halted his preparation. However, Waterhouse and Bott still have Vauban in contention, while topweights Via Sistina and Al Riffa remain in the mix alongside ‘Golden Ticket’ winners Deakin, Parchment Party and Revelare. Nine other international gallopers also feature among the 66 entries.
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