Trainer and jockey quotes after the Group 1 TAB Turnbull Stakes at Flemington on Saturday taken out by Sir Delius.
Race Result:
1st: Sir Delius (Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott/Craig Williams) - $7
2nd: Antino (Tony Gollan/Blake Shinn) - $9.50
3rd: Via Sistina (Chris Waller/James McDonald) - $2.60F
Winning Time: 2:02.82 Last 600m: N/A
Margins: 1¾L x Long Neck
Turnbull Stakes | Sir Delius
— Racing.com (@Racing) October 4, 2025
Sir Delius stamps his authority over the middle distance division, surging away with a comprehensive victory in the Turnbull Stakes
Ch. 78/68, Foxtel 529, Kayo or via our app
REPLAYS: https://t.co/ZIa4a02wC0 pic.twitter.com/UXYz05cDMU
Winning Trainer: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott (Gai Speaking)
What a marvellous animal: "He really is. A most exciting horse."
Craig's ride: "He had a bit of difficulty. He had a wide draw and he elected very quickly, which he said to me he might, he came in midfield and then he got caught in a pocket and any lesser jockey would not have got out of. The waters opened, and he went boom. That was the exciting part, the boom."
Improvement from the Underwood: "He's put on condition. He's relaxed more and whatever he runs in, they're going to have to beat him."
Winning Jockey: Craig Williams
Emergence of a new superstar: "He is a great horse and it's good people are getting behind him. I've been lucky to get on him. Adrian Bott and Gai Waterhouse, the horse's trainers, all their staff, Sir Owen Glenn's colours and all the owners, the horse they paid a big price for in Europe, you can see why he's a proper horse."
Did you think you would win like that?: "In Group 1 races, you don't think you can win like that. We were very confident he could do it. We had the outside barrier draw. Gai and Adrian were very good about having an open book without too much pressure about riding him. I had to use a few carrots to find a spot, but when the chips are down, this horse is a winner."
Distance range beyond this?: "I'm leaving that to Gai and Adrian. All I can say the target has been the Melbourne Cup this year and I just said you will never have 55-½ kilos in the Melbourne Cup again. I worked him during the week at Flemington and he walked out and he owned the track. He owns everything he does and today you saw that attitude. He puts the writing on the wall when under pressure against these top horses, he's delivering."
Beaten Jockeys:
Blake Shinn (Antino): "Super proud of him. Had the back of the winner early and then Craig had a bit of luck getting to one-off. From the 1400 (metre mark) I was left exposed but the pace came out at that point of the race and Antino likes to have a bit of room. He blended into the turn super and got run down by a star. Great run."
Jye McNeil (Land Legend): "He's probably just looking for the 2400 now."
James McDonald (Via Sistina): "I think she's going well. That tough run will harden her up a bit for the Cox Plate."
Ben Melham (Moira): "Wasn't a bad run. Had to get a long way back from the draw. She came to the outside and she seemed to appreciate a bit of room and a bit of give in the ground. I thought she was steady to the line. That will tighten her fitness up and she's ready to run well over 2400."
Jamie Melham (Half Yours): "Extremely excited for two weeks' time with this horse. He's flying."
Damian Lane (Aeliana): "She ran honest. Just lacked a bit of change up speed. When I got clear she travelled through her turn-of-foot and she was charging late."
Billy Egan (Young Werther): "He round the race out ok. I think he is looking for 2400 (metres) now so a good run ."
Michael Dee (Adelaide River): "Super effort. He loved it out in front and towards the line just got tightened up and potentially cost us running fourth."
Jordan Childs (Golden Path): "He ran as well as he could. He ended up having a nice run and got on the back of Antino. Just struggled when they quickened up and he couldn't."
Mark Zahra (Middle Earth): <No comment provided>
Daniel Stackhouse (Deakin): "I thought he was fantastic. Had to use him from his barrier. He travelled strong and put himself in the race and held his ground nicely. He going well for the Caulfield Cup."
Harry Coffey (Zardozi): "She was fairly dour today so she might be looking for more ground. Also probably wasn't 100% on the firming surface. She was going ok without flying but at 2400 you'll see a better horse."
Beau Mertens (River Of Stars): "I thought she ran well. She's not a horse that has a lot of change-up speed. We were just pocketed in there and we couldn't build when we wanted to but I thought she maintained a nice gallop to the line."
