Seven-Figure Tattersalls Autumn HIT Topper Takes Chairman’s Handicap For Waterhouse And Bott

[Wandering Eyes]

Making his Australian bow, Sir Delius (Frankel) ran out a 1 1/4-length winner of the G3 JRA Chairman's Handicap over 2000 metres at Doomben on Saturday (video). The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trainee topped the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale at 1.3 million gns last autumn.

Sold to Waterhouse and Bott who were part of a partnership with Go Racing, De Burgh Equine, and McKeever Bloodstock, the bay stalked in midfield before rallying just off Floating (Puissance De Lune) in upper straight and forging clear at the 100-metre mark. The 4-5 pick, Sir Delius is now owned by Go Bloodstock Australia as part of an ownership group and was ridden by Tim Clark. Manzoice (Almanzor) was third.

“It was great to see him put it all together and he's only going to improve from here off the back of that experience,” said Bott. “He's still well short of his best distance, and you saw how strong he was through the line.

“He's bred to get over much further and his form in Europe suggests that as well. He was always purchased as a [G1] Melbourne Cup prospect, he's got that quality about him and everything we do in this preparation will be geared towards that. No firm commitments about another run this prep, but if we did a race like the Q22 looks suitable.”

Bred by Mr. Mrs. David Brown in the UK, Sir Delius won his first three starts in France at three including the G3 Prix du Lys in the Coolmore partners' colours. Third in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris last July, he was second in the G2 Prix Niel and wound up eighth in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe prior to his sale Down Under.

Out of the Daylami mare Whatami, the 675,000gns Tattersalls December foal is a half-brother to G3 Hoppings Stakes winner Nkosikazi (Cape Cross) and a full to stakes winner and five-time group-placed runner Juan Elcano (Frankel). This is the extended family of G2 Royal Lodge Stakes hero and G1 Futurity Trophy Stakes third Wimbledon Hawkeye (Kameko), who was runner-up in the G2 Dante Stakes this past week.

 

Sir Delius impresses in his Australian debut, surging to victory at Doomben! @GaiWaterhouse1 @clarkyhk pic.twitter.com/aG9pLQSIVF

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025

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