Gai Waterhouse has a space on the mantelpiece saved for the Cox Plate, which would complete the Hall of Fame’s racing Grand Slam.
But her training partner Adrian Bott knows it isn’t as easy as turning with the favourite, Sir Delius, for Australia’s weight-for-age Championship.
He watched the best from Tulloch Lodge taking on the Cox Plate since he joined the team, only to come home with thirds.
“Pierro, Fiorente, Alligator Blood – they were all the best of their generations and couldn’t win this race,” Bott said. “It is so tough because it is the best of the best, and we have found that out the hard way.
”Sir Delius is at a similar level and perhaps our best chance to it.”
Bott has learned the Tulloch Lodge way from Waterhouse and, after joining her in partnership, helped Waterhouse to a first VRC Oaks with Pinot and Australian Derby with Major Beel in the past few years ago.
“These races are special because of all the planning that goes into them,” Bott said. “Everyone wants to win a Cox Plate, and we get there with Sir Delius as one of the leading chances.
“He has been down in Melbourne with Gai, and we have been very happy with the way he continued to improve this preparation.”
Sir Delius gets to the Cox Plate third-up, where his record is perfect from three attempts, including his Turnbull Stakes win last year and Queen Elizabeth Stakes victory, where he handed Autumn Glow her only defeat.
However, he hasn’t been winning this preparation, running fourth in the Makybe Diva Stakes and Turnbull Stakes in his lead-ups.
“We know his very best would win this race and that has been the aim of the preparation,” Bott said.
“Gai has been very happy with him since the Turnbull and the gallop on Tuesday was what we wanted to see. Hopefully he takes that to Raceday.”
Waterhouse and Bott will both be at Flemington on Saturday showing the significance of the Cox Plate.
“We don’t get to races together too often, but this is a big one,” Bott said.
