Imported stayer Sir Delius will continue his path towards the Melbourne Cup (3200m) when he lines up in Saturday’s Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.

The expensive purchase is current favourite for the Cup and remains among 66 horses still in contention after first declarations closed on Tuesday.

Owner Sir Owen Glenn has long made a Melbourne Cup victory a priority. “He said to me at the start of the year you’ve got three things – win me a Golden Slipper… win me a Cox Plate… and win me a Melbourne Cup,” trainer Gai Waterhouse said.

Waterhouse and co-trainer Adrian Bott are following a Fiorente-style program, with Sir Delius targeting the Cox Plate (2040m) before returning to Flemington on November 4.

Waterhouse said the entire reminded her of her 2013 Cup winner. “In his temperament, the size of the horse and his demeanour,” she said.

Last year’s Cup winner Knight’s Choice was absent from declarations, but rivals Via Sistina, Al Riffa and several international hopes remain in the mix.