The Phillip Stokes team is confident they made the right call in bypassing the Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) with progressive stayer Deakin, who will instead chase a golden ticket into the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) in Saturday’s Listed Roy Higgins Quality (2600m) at Flemington.
Deakin had been among the early favourites with horse racing betting sites for the Adelaide Cup, but the decision was made to stay in Victoria and target a more suitable option closer to home.
“The price we would have paid to go there at the time, running on a 40 degree day and carrying 59-kilos in a two-mile race for the first time, the risk was greater than the reward,” stable representative Shae Dinunzio said.
“We thought it best to keep him here and jump him out in between and follow the same recipe we did last time.”
That recipe delivered success in February, with Deakin scoring in the Listed Torney Night Cup (2500m) at Moonee Valley.
He steps out to 2600 metres this weekend with the added incentive of a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup on the line, where he is currently a $26 hope in Melbourne Cup futures markets with horse racing bookmakers.
“He worked super on the grass at Pakenham on Saturday morning,” Dinunzio said.
“Joe Bowditch rode him and couldn’t have been happier. If he wins the Roy Higgins there’s a chance he goes to the Sydney Cup next month but if we think he’s not ready we’ll pull the pin, send him to the paddock, and get him ready for the Melbourne Cup.”
“His jump-out on Tuesday was the same as how he jumped out before he won the Torney Cup. We’re rapt and couldn’t be happier.”
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