Melbourne Cup Goal for 1.3million Sale-Topper Sir Delius

Tara Madgwick - Saturday May 17

The top lot at the 2024 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale when selling for 1.3million guineas, lightly raced Frankel stallion Sir Delius (GB) justified his price tag when winning the Group III BRC Chairman’s Quality (2000m) at Doomben on Saturday.

Sir Delius (GB) wins at his first Australian start - image Grant Courtney

Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Sir Delius showed his class last year in Europe as a Group III winner in France that was also placed in G1 company and was last seen running eighth in the Group I Longchamp Arc de Triomphe behind Bluestocking.

Sir Delius had pleased connections in recent trials and had no trouble carrying 60kg to a first up win here in Australia with Tim Clark in the saddle. He scored by more than a length over Floating.

Sir Delius was purchased originally by MV Magnier from the Tattersalls December foal Sale in 2021 for MV Magnier and di his early racing for the Coolmore partners.

Sir Delius topped the 2024 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale when selling for 1.3million guineas..

He was snapped up at the end of last year as a tried horse by De Burgh Equine / McKeever Bloodstock / Go Bloodstock and now runs for a big ownership group headed by Sir Owen Glenn in whose colours he runs.

“He’s a quality individual, his form showed that previously and you saw that in the yard today, so it’s good to see him put it all there together today,” said Adrian Bott.

“He's only going to keep improving off the back of that experience and 2000m is still well short of his best.

Advertisement

“You saw how strong he was through the line but I thought he showed a nice turn of foot there, some good acceleration and there's only up from here.

“He was always purchased as a Melbourne Cup prospect. He's got that quality about him. So everything that we do in this preparation now is going to be geared towards that. We may look at a race like the Q22 and see how that fits in with the spring.

“I've got to thank Sir Owen Glenn. He was looking for a Melbourne Cup prospect and we were able to partner with him as a major shareholder on the horse out of the Tattersall Sale .

“We had some owners in the stable looking for similar prospects. Sir Owen put together a nice partnership for some very loyal owners.”

Sir Delius is a star on the rise - image Grant Courtney

Sir Delius is a sibling to Group III winner Nkosikazi and stakes-winner Juan Elcano and is the best of five winners from blue-blood Daylami mare Whatami, whose immediate family includes Champion US Turf mare Uni. Tracing back further it’s hugely influential family most notable for producing champion sire Invincible Spirit.

Advertisment

Race Result - JRA Chairman's Qlty Hcp Gr3 2000m

Doomben Track: Heavy(8) Time: 2:06.15
1
Sir Delius
- 4h Frankel (GB) x Whatami (GB) (Daylami (IRE))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 60
2
1.3
Floating
- 6g Puissance De Lune (IRE) x Goujon (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: Matthew Smith Rdr: J R Collett 56
3
3.5
Manzoice
- 5g Almanzor (FR) x Choice (NZ) (Mastercraftsman (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Craig Williams 54
MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale $340,000
Seller: Bhima Thoroughbreds, Scone, NSW
Buyer: Waller Racing/Mulcaster Bloodstock
4
4.9
Strathtay
- 5g Preferment (NZ) x Miss Remington (AUS) (Savoire Vivre (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Ron Stewart 54
5
5.8
Warp Speed
- 8g Star Witness (AUS) x Prized Gem (NZ) (Prized (USA))
Tnr: M W Goodwin Rdr: Jake Bayliss 54
6
7.1
Star Vega
- 5g Lope De Vega (IRE) x Pacharana (GB) (Oasis Dream (GB))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Kyle Wilson-Taylor 54.5
7
7.2
Nikau Spur
- 8g Proisir (AUS) x Sarsarun (NZ) (Ustinov (AUS))
Tnr: Corey & Kylie Geran Rdr: M R Du Plessis 57
8
7.5
Nereus
- 5g Savabeel (AUS) x Eudora (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: S Ritchie & C Murray Rdr: Tommy Berry 55.5
9
7.7
Caboche
- 6g Vadamos (FR) x Floramour (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Jamie Melham 54
10
15.3
Anemacore
- 5g Unusual Suspect (USA) x Saintly Ripa (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle (IRE))
Tnr: S A Dwyer Rdr: A Mallyon 54
11
16.6
Alegron
- 6g Teofilo (IRE) x Alegria (AUS) (Medaglia D'oro (USA))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Rachel King 59
12
20.1
Encoder
- 4g Encryption (AUS) x Eight Below (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: D L Freedman Rdr: Tyler Schiller 55
More Reading...
Debut Win for Expensive Capitalist 2YO
An $800,000 Magic Millions purchase from Attunga Stud for the James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership, Capitalist colt Caesar was the highest priced yearling by his sire sold in 2024 and made a winning debut at Gosford on Thursday.
Bloodstockauction 2025 Stallion Cover Charity Auction
Bloodstockauction Stallion Cover Charity Auction is on again this year seeking to raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities Sydney.
G1 Sprinter Crocetti Returns to Work
Group One-winning sprinter Crocetti has returned to Danny Walker and Arron Tata’s Byerley Park stable with some lofty summer targets in-mind.
Myracehorse Celebrate with Sapphire Rose, then Make it a Winning Double!
The Myracehorse syndicates bring new owners into racing and fresh from a big win at Ballarat on Tuesday with Volkano, the familiar colours were back in the winner’s circle at Canterbury with the Bjorn Baker trained two year-old Sapphire Rose.
Tie the Knot Family Still Producing for Tait Family
The Tait family colours were making news last Saturday carried by progressive 2YO Buccleuch, who won the Listed VRC Taj Rossi Series Final and back in 2020 they won the same race with Cherry Tortoni and his half-brother was a winner at Canterbury on Wednesday.
Progressive Mare Bred on Magic Cross
The magic Fastnet Rock x Galileo cross that has produced champion mare Via Sistina (IRE) was in the frame overnight in Ireland where six year-old mare Goodie Two Shoes scored a career best win in the Group III Stanerra Stakes (1m6f) at Fairyhouse.
Pencarrow takes top billing in National Online Breeding Stock Sale
Pencarrow Stud’s select offering of four broodmares proved to be the star attraction in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus on Wednesday, earning the two highest prices of the sale.
Two powerful additions announced for Equate 2025
The countdown to Equate '25 just got even more exciting. Australasia's number one innovation event for the thoroughbred industry has announced two brand-new sessions that bring together transparency, technology, and tangible takeaways for all attendees.
Juddmonte Bred Orchid Bouquet Sells For Record 550,000 Guineas at Tattersalls July Day 2
rade soared on the second day of the Tattersalls July Sale with a new record price of 550,000 guineas for Juddmonte’s ORCHID BOUQUET and four lots realising 300,000 guineas or more. The median and average were up 67% and 60% respectively from the equivalent day in 2024 and the clearance rate was an impressive 91%.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday July 9
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.