Turnbull tilt on path to Cup

Sir Delius, the current favourite for the $10 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 4, is one of 66 horses that remains in contention for the race after first declarations closed on Tuesday. 

Glenn told Waterhouse at the start of the year that he wanted three things from the stable. 

"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." 

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable provided Glenn with a Golden Slipper victory last year when Lady Of Camelot took out the coveted two-year-old race while Glenn's colours were carried to Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup placings in 2015 by Criterion when prepared David Hayes and Tom Dabernig. 

Sir Delius cost 'big bucks' to join the Waterhouse and Bott stable and the entire is following a similar program to Fiorente's campaign when successful in the 2013 Melbourne Cup. 

Instead of heading to the Group 1 Might And Power (2000m) at Caulfield on October 11, Sir Delius takes on Via Sistina, Aeliana and co in the Group 1 TAB Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday. 

It will then be on to the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 25 heading into the Lexus Melbourne Cup at Flemington, two races Fiorente contested on his path to Melbourne Cup glory. 

Waterhouse said Sir Delius reminds her a lot of Fiorente, her sole Melbourne Cup victor. 

"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 was given a look at the Flemington course proper, galloping on his own on Tuesday morning, quickening up over the final 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 Lexus Melbourne Cup winner Knight's Choice was a notable absentee from the first acceptances on Tuesday following a shutdown of Macedon Lodge where the stayer was being prepared for his Cup defence following an outbreak of strangles. 

While Knight's Choice is not among the 66 remaining, Waterhouse and Bott also have Vauban remaining in the hunt for Lexus Melbourne Cup honours while the two horses at the top of the weights, Via Sistina and Al Riffa also remain in contention. 

Golden Ticket winners Deakin, Parchment Party and Revelare remain in the hunt and besides Al Riffa and Parchment Party, there are another nine horses from international stables amongst first acceptances.