Phillip Stokes’ stable is in no way disappointed that they opted not to send Deakin to the Adelaide Cup earlier this month in favour of waiting for the stayer’s next assignment in the Roy Higgins Quality at Flemington on Saturday.
Deakin was favourite for the Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) in the weeks leading up but staying home was the preferred option than having to overcome the challenges of making the trip across the border and hoping that the gelding would come out of it unscathed.
“We’re rapt,” Stokes’ stable representative Shae Dinunzio said.
“The price we would have paid to go there in the weather 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.
“We thought it was best to keep him here and jump him out in between and follow the same recipe we did last time with him.”
Deakin’s last outing delivered a win in the Listed Torney Night Cup at Moonee Valley in February and while he steps up to 2600-metres at Flemington this time, the carrot of the golden ticket into November’s Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) is firmly in their sights.
“He worked on the training grass at Pakenham on Saturday morning and he worked super,” Dinunzio added.
“Joe Bowditch rode him and he couldn’t have been happier with him.
“If he wins the Roy Higgins then there is a chance he might go to the Sydney Cup next month but if we think that he’s not ready for another big race then 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.”
