The gap between Spring and Autumn feels more blurred than ever with some of Australia’s top horses down to trial at Randwick on Thursday.
The likes of Via Sistina, Sir Delius, Autumn Glow and Aeliana will step out for their first public appearance on the Kensington track ahead of Autumn campaigns.
Autumn Glow, arguably the most exciting horse in the country, will trial in the opening heat over 850m, with stablemate Wodeton, Flight Stakes winner Apocalyptic and Turnbull Stakes winner Sir Delius among the six others.
James McDonald will ride both Autumn Glow and Via Sistina, who will go around in the third heat, also over 850m, with stablemates Aeliana and Lindermann and Golden Slipper winner Marhoona among the octet.
While there will be great interest around Waller’s team of mares, many eyes will be on Sir Delius for Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott, who was ruled out of the Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate after failing his mandatory veterinary scans.
The scans barred Sir Delius, who was pre-post favourite for both the Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate, from racing in Victoria for the remainder of the Spring carnival, with a stewards’ embargo placed on the horse.
That embargo remains in place, however does not automatically apply to other jurisdictions such as New South Wales, where it is up to the relevant bodies to decide whether to enforce Racing Victoria’s embargo.
With Sir Delius entered to trial, that has not been the case, and co-trainer Adrian Bott said the horse will be given a slow build up to racing after the disappointing end to his Spring campaign.
“He’s going to the trials on Thursday,” Bott said.
“He won’t be asked much, he’s just going for a quiet sort of trial.
“He’ll be out on a few occasions before we see him step out to the races, sort of fitting in line with what we saw from him last prep.
“But he seems to be back in good order.”
