The stage is set.
Caulfield Cup. Cox Plate. Melbourne Cup.
Take your pick.
A blockbuster Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) on Saturday at Flemington has potentially produced the winner of each again, with Sir Delius a serious candidate now for two of the three spring majors.
The prized son of Frankel, a multiple Group 1-winner now in consecutive starts, stamped Melbourne Cup credentials last month at Caulfield with victory in the Underwood Stakes (1800m).
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He embossed those on Saturday and emerged as the biggest threat to reigning Cox Plate champion Via Sistina in Australia’s best race at The Valley in three weeks.
Sir Delius, trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, overpowered Queensland raider Antino late to claim the 1¾-length victory, with Via Sistina third ahead of Caulfield Cup favourite Half Yours.
Champion jockey Craig Williams nailed the “tricky” brief on Sir Delius, going back from a wide draw and then rolled forward at an opportune time to slot in with cover.
“He had a bit of difficulty,” Waterhouse said.
“He had a wide draw and he elected very quickly, which he said to me he might, he came in midfield and then he got caught in a pocket and any lesser jockey would not have got out of.
“The waters opened, and he went boom. That was the exciting part, the boom.”
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Sir Delius is now second elect for the Cox Plate – behind only Via Sistina – and outright favourite in Melbourne Cup markets.
“Whatever he runs in, they’re going to have to beat him,” Waterhouse added.
Waterhouse saddled Fiorente to place third in the Cox Plate in 2013 before he secured the legendary trainer a first and only Melbourne Cup triumph.
TAKE NOTE, THE REAL DEAL. SIR DELIUS ⭐
An outstanding win against an outstanding field! The Melbourne Cup favourite wins the Turnbull, and he might be Cox Plate favourite before too long 💛🏆 pic.twitter.com/A3BjvEBEUR
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 4, 2025
Sir Delius has the potential to deliver Waterhouse an elusive Cox Plate success on October 25.
Williams enjoyed the ride on Sir Delius, his fourth Group 1 of the Melbourne Spring Carnival to date and 86th elite win overall.
“He is a great horse … you can see why he’s a proper horse,” Williams said.
“In Group 1 races, you don’t think you can win like that.
“We were very confident he could do it.”
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Williams went into the race with open book and again nailed the execution.
“I had to use a few carrots to find a spot,” Williams said.
“But when the chips are down, this horse is a winner.”
The champion jockey deferred race planning to Waterhouse and Bott.
“I’m leaving that to Gai and Adrian,” Williams said.
“All I can say the target has been the Melbourne Cup this year and I just said you will never have 55½ kilos in the Melbourne Cup again.
“I worked him during the week at Flemington and he walked out and he owned the track.
“He owns everything he does and today you saw that attitude. He puts the writing on the wall when under pressure against these top horses, he’s delivering.”
Trainer Gai Waterhouse and jockey Craig Williams with the Turnbull Stakes trophy. Picture: Michael Klein
Antino blended into the contention around the bend under jockey Blake Shinn, only to be “run down by a star”.
Via Sistina, the best of five Chris Waller-trained Turnbull starters, should benefit from the tough hitout three weeks out from her Cox Plate grand final.
Half Yours (fourth) and Deakin (sixth) ran enormous Cups trials.
Luckless Aeliana, also trained by Waller, had to slide off heels around the bend and raced in restricted room inside stablemate Via Sistina.
Aeliana picked up again the last 100m once clear.
Assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth said the lack of tempo exposed Via Sistina.
“James (McDonald) said they just didn’t go quick enough for her,” Duckworth said.
“I know it sounds like a broken record after last start but he gave her a beautiful ride.
“Got her off the fence, just gave her an absolute peach, they just dropped her the first bit when the sprint really went on and she was solid through the line again.
“The top three in the race are all absolute superstars, you’d love to own any one of them.
“She won the race last year, you’re hopeful she could come back and do it again.
“You have that level of disappointment but it’s just due to expectations.”