Deakin is scheduled to commence his pursuit of Caulfield Cup success with his first-up run at Caulfield this Saturday.
Trainer Phillip and Tommy Stokes are entirely focused on Deakin’s preparation, with the Melbourne Cup not an option for the French-bred stayer.
The Listed Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) this Saturday serves as the initial step, followed by the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on September 19, and then the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 3.
The ultimate aim for Deakin’s spring campaign is the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 17, a race in which he secured eighth place last year.
Following last year’s Caulfield Cup, Phillip Stokes had intentions of targeting the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington, but the gelding was disqualified under Racing Victoria’s veterinary protocols.
To avoid a repeat of that situation, the Caulfield Cup is now the singular objective.
Deakin has competed just once since his last Caulfield Cup appearance, finishing fifth in the Bart Cummings (1600m) at Morphettville in May.
This was part of a deliberate plan, featuring a light autumn schedule to ensure the gelding reaches peak condition for the spring. The father-and-son training team expressed satisfaction with the gelding’s recent trial, where he finished third at Caulfield Heath on August 19.
“He had his second trial at Caulfield last week,” Phillip Stokes stated.
“He hasn’t raced since the Bart Cummings Stakes in Adelaide, and we pulled up after that, so it’s nearly been a year off, but I’m feeling he’s going as well as ever.
“Last prep, first-up 1400 metres, so the 1700 suits this time first-up, but I think he will need the run just to bring him on for his second-up assignment, but I couldn’t have been any happier with his trial.”
His campaign last year began over 1400m, advanced to 1700m, and then saw him produce a notable performance in the Turnbull Stakes third-up.
“We’re doing a similar campaign again to the Caulfield Cup,” Stokes remarked.
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