Having just his third Australian start, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s 2024 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale topper Sir Delius (GB) further highlighted his claim to Spring riches by winning the $1m Group 1 VRC Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Flemington.
A winner of the Group 3 BRC Chairman’s Quality (2000m) at Doomben in May, the 5yo Frankel stallion was put away with Spring in mind.
Resuming with a great second in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) behind Lindermann (Lonhro), Sir Delius was sent to Melbourne where he jumped away the race favourite ahead of last year’s Underwood Stakes winner Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet Rock).
Away well from barrier 10 in the 11-horse field, jockey Criag Williams sent Sir Delius forward where he settled in fourth with 2022 Group 1 Turnbull Stakes winner Smokin' Romans (NZ) (Ghibellines) taking up the running.
With Pride Of Dubai’s last start winner Desert Lightning (NZ) one of the first to make their runs, the Chirs Waller trained Buckaroo had come from back in the field to pass Sir Delius who appeared slightly flat footed with the runs started to come.
As the 200m mark was reached, Buckaroo had a clear margin on Sir Delius, but Craig Williams wasn’t down and out, as the Melbourne Cup favourite knuckled down strongly, going to the inside of the leader to wear him down and win by just shy of a half-length margin.
In the firing line for most of the straight, the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr trained Golden Path (NZ) (Belardo) held on for third, appearing to come back on the line to just miss second.
“I can't describe how excited I am, I cannot tell you,” Waterhouse enthused post-race. “It's the most exciting thing I've seen in years.”
“He was not in a good a position throughout the race. He was back, about one or two positions off the fence.
“He was trying, trying and when he came around the straight he wasn't any good thing, but then all of a sudden he saw the winning post and he took off.
“He was just fabulous.”
When quizzed about his program, Waterhouse gave the credit to co-trainer Adrian Bott.
“It was Adrian's program, and it was very much around Fiorente which we won the Melbourne Cup with in 2013.
“We'll go to the Might And Power and then we'll go to the Cox Plate and then that elusive race on the first Tuesday in November.”
When asked about the comparison between Sir Delius and the former stable trained Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente, Waterhouse highlighted their similarities.
“They are both very similar, both are very handsome horses," said Waterhouse.
“They have fabulous attitudes, like a will to win. They're a pleasure to ride; they're big striding horses and just know where the winning post is.”
Williams highlighted that although Sir Delius won, there is so much more to come from him.
“Gai and the stable presented me a really nice horse today,” said Williams.
“The exciting part is that he's got so much upside from today. The discussion we had pre-race (was) to let him be a really good horse.
“He gave me a really good run from an awkward draw. When the chips were down he had to be tough and it's his first way of going left-handed.
“I did all his replays in France as well, even on really firm ground. All his early form when they purchased him was on French soft or heavy.
“He's just such a weapon and when Blake came past me (on Buckaroo) I thought 'oh no', but I just kept urging him. I always said he reminded me of Dunaden; he's got that great tenacity and great will to win. He laid back his ears and we got the win today.”
Taking his record to five wins and three placed efforts from nine starts with earnings of $1,049,063, Sir Delius was secured by De Burgh Equine, McKeever Bloodstock and Go Bloodstock for 1.3million guineas when topping the 2024 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale.
Originally purchased by MV Magnier from the Tattersalls December Foal Sale in 2021for 675,000 guineas, Sir Delius now races in the silks of Sir Owen Glen’s Go Bloodstock.
Having previously recorded a Group 3 win in France as well as a Group 1 third place before coming to Australia, Sir Delius is a brother to the Listed-winning, multiple Group 2 placed Juan Elcano (Frankel) and a half to the Group 3 winner Nkosikazi (Cape Cross).
The best of five winners from eight to the races from blue-blood Daylami mare Whatami, whose immediate family includes Champion US Turf mare Uni, Sir Delius pedigree traces back to the family of sires Invincible Spirit and Pride Of Dubai.
The win of Sir Delius gave Champion Sire Frankel his 40th individual Group 1 winner amongst his 168 individual global stakes winners.
