Tulloch Lodge to spell Sir Delius after Cox Plate-Melbourne Cup withdrawals

Sir Delius was controversially withdrawn from both the Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate after failing compulsory veterinary examinations.

Mitch Cohen

less than 2 min read

October 22, 2025 - 10:32AM

Sir Delius was not among the acceptors for the Craven Plate. Picture: Getty Images

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One-time Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup favourite Sir Delius has been sent to the paddock as Tulloch Lodge turn their focus to a Sydney autumn carnival campaign.

The door was left ajar for the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Sir Delius to continue his spring campaign in Sydney following his bombshell withdrawal from both the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup.

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Sir Delius was ruled out of the Melbourne spring’s two biggest races after Racing Victoria’s controversial veterinary protocols ruled the star import had a heightened risk of injury.

Melbourne Cup runners are required to undergo compulsory Computed Tomography (CT) scans of distal limbs before an independent review is conducted of those scans.

Racing Victoria stewards stood down Sir Delius from competing in the remainder of the Victorian carnival however there was still the option of the multiple Group 1 winner running in Sydney, provided he was given the green light by Racing NSW stewards to do so.

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But Sir Delius was a notable omission from Saturday’s Group 3 $750,000 Craven Plate (1800m) acceptances with Waterhouse confirming the five-year-old had now been spelled.

“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 on X.
“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.”

Waterhouse confirmed the Group 1 $5m Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick would be the target for Sir Delius in the New Year.

Meanwhile, the Chris Waller-trained Lindermann is now a long odds-on favourite at $1.60 to win the Craven Plate in the absence of Sir Delius, which had opened as favourite in all-in betting on Monday.

Lindermann will take on just seven rivals in the feature with regular jockey Nash Rawiller chasing consecutive feature victories on the gelding after winning the Group 2 Hill Stakes last start.

Originally published as Tulloch Lodge to spell Sir Delius after Cox Plate-Melbourne Cup withdrawals