Sir Delius commences spring campaign in Makybe Diva Stakes

Gai Waterhouse, much like her esteemed father Tommy Smith, has historically been a pivotal figure throughout the Melbourne Spring Carnival.

With her training associate Adrian Bott based in Sydney, Waterhouse has found it feasible to maintain a more consistent presence in Melbourne during the spring racing season.

Waterhouse was observed at Flemington earlier in the week and intends to make Melbourne her primary base after Sir Delius competes in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington this Saturday, staying until the conclusion of the Melbourne Cup carnival.

Having already claimed a Melbourne Cup and a Caulfield Cup, Waterhouse is eager to join her father's ranks as a Cox Plate-winning trainer, aiming to 'complete the set'.

Last year's aspirations of clinching the Cox Plate were unfortunately dashed for Waterhouse when a standing CT and PET scan, undertaken in preparation for the Melbourne Cup, indicated that Sir Delius was at a heightened risk of sustaining an injury.

Prior to that, Sir Delius had triumphed in the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield and the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington, establishing himself as one of the strong favourites for both events.

The entire colt made a successful return in the autumn to capture his 'Grand Final', the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick, following strong placings in the Verry Elleegant Stakes and Ranvet Stakes.

A similar race schedule is mapped out for Sir Delius in Melbourne this spring, with the 1600m contest on Saturday to be followed by the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 3, and then the prestigious Cox Plate (2000m) three weeks thereafter.

Waterhouse remarked that securing the autumn 'Grand Final' was a remarkable accomplishment.

"(Jockey) Craig (Williams), Adrian and I had discussed different ways of riding him and I can be a bit vocal about those things, but we got what we wanted," Waterhouse shared.

"It was the big prize that we were heading for.

"We live the dream and that's why we come every year, so hopefully the dream will be the Cox Plate this year.

"It's interesting that it is at Flemington this year. It will definitely suit this horse."

Sir Delius has been in Melbourne for just over a week in anticipation of Saturday's return, and Waterhouse expressed confidence in the entire's readiness to perform well.

"He's a happy horse and he's pretty fit," Waterhouse confirmed.

"I think these are good races and they're stepping stones to where you want to be.

"It (Saturday) is a Group 1 race worth a lot of money and a lot of prestige and he's an entire and a Group 1 adds to his value as a stallion.

"I think it will be a hard race to win, but we're in it, and will give it a shake."

Checking out the latest betting markets for the race could be a smart move for those looking to back a winner in the Makybe Diva Stakes.