Sir Delius, a five-year-old entire sired by that remarkable stallion Frankel, is rocking the boat in Australian horse racing. He opened the door with a strong 4.8-length victory at the Turnbull Stakes. The horse recently won the hearts of racing fans and post race analysts nationwide. It helped to lead him to victory in three of four starts down under and extraordinary success at the Group 1 level in two starts.
On Saturday, Sir Delius proved that he was up to the challenge. He overcame a distant draw and overcame an interrupted passage to beat Antino by 1-¾ lengths. His brilliant performance improved his outlook to 8-1 this morning for the Melbourne Cup next at Flemington, the world’s richest 2-mile race on Nov. 4. Today, he sits atop the betting market, including ahead of Al Riffa.
Craig Williams, who rode Sir Delius in the race, felt strongly about the horse’s capabilities. “In Group 1 races, you don’t think you can win like that, but we were very confident he could do it,” he stated. His comments serve to underscore the enthusiasm that is clearly starting to bubble up about Sir Delius. He is preparing for the Melbourne Cup and the Cox Plate, looking to duel with Via Sistina again.
Clients of the popular Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable snapped up Sir Delius for an eye-watering $2.7 million. This investment underscores his promise to shine when it counts in the sport’s most elite events. Williams added that Sir Delius will carry a big load in the Melbourne Cup. As he quipped, “You’re not going to see 55-½ kilos in the Melbourne Cup ever again.” He further added this is a rare opportunity for any horse and connections.
Williams is unsure what range of distance Sir Delius will be most effective at. He’s absolutely convinced that an educated risk on the Melbourne Cup is worth it. “He owns everything he does and today you saw that attitude,” Williams remarked after the race.
Gai Waterhouse, one of the horse’s trainers, shared her excitement following Sir Delius’s victory. “He just gobbled them up, didn’t he? He is an alpha male,” she declared, highlighting the horse’s dominance on the track.
Before his success at Turnbull Stakes, Sir Delius competed in the prestigious Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp. His experience in these high-caliber races has without a doubt sharpened his skills for the even bigger challenges ahead in Australia.
And as Sir Delius prepares for the races ahead, the industry will be pulling for him. He has eyes for glory in winning the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup. His extraordinary feats of speed and stamina have made him a giant in the pantheon of Australian horse racers. Few doubt that he will strive to push his authority as far as he can reach.
