Road to the Cup begins for Deakin and connections

Holding off Berkshire Breeze in a thrilling finish, the four-year-old secured not only his second consecutive Stakes win but also the first golden ticket to the 2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup. For trainer Phillip Stokes and connections at OTI Racing, it means a guaranteed place in the race.

“It’s a race that stops the whole nation. Everyone talks about it. It’s an amazing race,” Stokes said.

For co-owner Terry Henderson – who has already tasted success with his 1995 Cup win – the early ballot exemption allows for a more strategic preparation. “Now we can actually focus on getting to the Cup without worrying about extra weight or needing to win again,” he explained.

Assistant trainer Shae Dinunzio knows there’s still a long road ahead to the big day: “It’s exciting, but it’s still head down, bum up – we’ve got to get the job done.”