Gai to split stars

Sir Delius and Vauban will take different paths toward the Melbourne Cup, with Gai Waterhouse confirming the Cox Plate now looms as the spring target for Sir Delius.

Waterhouse revealed on Sunday that stablemate Vauban will remain on a Caulfield Cup path, ensuring the two European stayers avoid an early clash.

“Sir Delius will come to Melbourne over the next few days and go to the Naturalism (Caulfield, September 20) for his next start,” Waterhouse told racing.com.

“He will go to the Cox Plate so we can keep them apart and also it would possibly suit Sir Delius better. They are such exciting horses, it’s lovely being associated with horses of that quality.”

Sir Delius, who started his Australian career with a Doomben win during the winter carnival, franked his potential when narrowly beaten in Saturday’s G2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick. The run saw him firm into $8 favouritism for the Melbourne Cup.

While much of the attention has been on Sir Delius, Waterhouse was quick to highlight Vauban’s own eye-catching return when finishing close behind his stablemate in the Chelmsford.

“Vauban, everyone talks about Sir Delius – and for good reason – but hardly anyone seems to be talking about Vauban and he was literally on his hammer,” Waterhouse said.

“He will stay in Sydney and go to the Kingston Town Stakes (Randwick, September 20) and then come to Melbourne for the Caulfield Cup. We’re so pleased with how he is coming along.”

Bookmakers have Vauban rated a $15 chance in the Caulfield Cup, the same price offered about Sir Delius winning the Cox Plate. Both remain firmly in the market for the $8m Melbourne Cup on November 4.