Melbourne Cup 2025 hopeful Deakin showing dash ahead of Spring return

While several OTI Racing horses are set to resume this week, the biggest interest surrounds Melbourne Cup hopeful Deakin, who will line up at the Pakenham jumpouts on Tuesday.

Prepared by Phillip Stokes, the French-bred stayer rose to prominence last preparation, capping his campaign with victory in the Listed Roy Higgins Quality. According to OTI boss Terry Henderson, his work this time in has only fuelled optimism.

“We’ve had to keep the brakes on him a little bit because he’s been doing so well,” Henderson said.

“He looks to have come back with a bit more speed, to be honest. He seems quite sharp.

“He might not even be a Melbourne Cup horse in reality. He might be more Caulfield Cup horse or a 2000-metre, 2400-metre horse.

“We’re just not quite sure where he fits in that mould yet but he’s very well and we’re really happy with him.”

Deakin’s second jumpout follows a quiet sixth at Caulfield over 800m on July 30. His spring kick-off is set for the $1 million Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 30, before progressing to the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m).

Already entered for the $5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m), he is joined in nominations by Group 1 New Zealand Derby placegetter Golden Century, who resumes in a 1500m race at Hawkesbury on Tuesday.

OTI will also debut an exciting newcomer this Sunday at Sale in the form of Shamus Award colt Cinturato, trained by Mark Walker. The Cox Plate (2040m) entrant has already turned heads, winning a Cranbourne jumpout last week by a dominant eight lengths.