For the third time in as many years, star South Australian galloper Dalasan is set to commence his spring campaign in the Spring Stakes at Morphettville.
As a three-year-old, the Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas-trained Dalasan won the Group 3 sprint over 1200m then last year he finished second to Behemoth, an opponent again on Saturday.
“It’s a nice starting point for him over the six furlongs,” Gluyas said.
“He’s grown into himself again during his break and he’s come up quite well.”
Dalasan has won seven of his 25 starts but has been winless since his late three-year-old days.
While placed over 2500m in the Group 1 South Australian Derby, Dalasan found the 2400m of the Caulfield Cup beyond him last spring.
After an autumn campaign that did not see Dalasan race beyond 2000m, Gluyas said that was likely to be the plan again in the spring.
“We’ve decided after the autumn where he ran a couple good races at the mile and his 2000-metre runs have been excellent, without true reward, that stepping out beyond 2000 is probably not getting the best out of him,” Gluyas said.
“So, the Cox Plate is the target if we’re going well enough and that would be ultimate.
“If he is not showing the form to warrant a start then we could set our sights on the Cantala Mile or the Mackinnon Stakes.
“But our brief really is to frank him as a Group 1 horse which he is not yet.”
Gluyas said the stable would be pleased to see Dalasan hitting the line well on Saturday and a win would be a bonus.
He said Dalasan was likely to run in the Listed Leon Macdonald Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville on August 28 before making his way to Melbourne for the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington two weeks later.
“But we want to get over Saturday first,” Gluyas said.
