Sir Delius to target 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the Autumn

The high-profile spring campaign of Sir Delius has officially come to an end, with trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott announcing that the talented import will miss Saturday’s Craven Plate at Randwick and head to the paddock.

After being controversially ruled out of the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup due to veterinary advice from Racing Victoria, Sir Delius’ campaign has been cut short despite the stable’s hopes of continuing in Sydney.

Waterhouse confirmed the decision on Wednesday, posting on X that the five-year-old son of Frankel will be spelled immediately with the autumn as his new target.

“After discussing Sir Delius with the ownership group, Adrian and I have made the decision to spell him and set our sights on the autumn carnival,” Waterhouse said. “He’s an extremely valuable horse and one we firmly believe will continue to prove he’s the best weight-for-age performer in Australia. Bring on the $5 million Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes.”

The decision follows medical scans that identified potential injury risks. A panel of international imaging experts reviewed both CT and PET results, advising Racing Victoria that Sir Delius was at elevated risk and should not compete further this spring.

Sir Delius had been in sparkling form, winning both the Underwood Stakes and Turnbull Stakes, and was the early favourite for the Cox Plate. His absence has reshaped betting markets, with Lindermann now firming into favouritism for the Craven Plate.