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Deakin peaking for Caulfield Cup shot

Trainer Phillip Stokes says Deakin is peaking at the right time ahead of the Caulfield Cup.

DEAKIN.
DEAKIN. Picture: Racing Photos

In horse racing, plans are made but don't always come to fruition. 

For Phillip Stokes and his Caulfield Cup hope Deakin, everything has gone to a plan mapped out by the trainer soon after the stayer scored at Flemington in March. 

That victory came in the Roy Higgins Quality which secured Deakin a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 4. 

While Stokes is a little apprehensive about Deakin running out a strong 3200m, the trainer has no qualms about the 2400m of the Caulfield Cup on Saturday. 

Deakin rounded out his Caulfield Cup campaign with a pleasing sixth behind Sir Delius in the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 4. 

That run came after a first up 1400m run at Caulfield on August 30 and then a 1700m outing at Flemington on September 13. 

In between the two Flemington assignments was a 1200m Pakenham jump-out which Stokes said had been highly beneficial to Deakin's campaign. 

Stokes is confident Deakin can be around the money at the business end of Saturday's contest. 

"The horse is flying," Stokes said. 

"His last run was spot on. He needs that extra 400 metres now. I'm really happy with him. 

"He's got a nice barrier, he'll get his chance, and he'll give a great sight." 

Deakin sat handy to the speed in the Turnbull Stakes in a slowly run race but was outsprinted when the field turned for home. 

Pleasingly for Stokes and connections, Deakin stuck on bravely and was strong through the line. 

"There wasn't the speed last time, but they should go along in the Caulfield Cup, and he's drawn to get the right run," Stokes said. 

"He was strong through the line last time and he's come on again since the run. 

"It's all going to plan and he's peaking at the right time." 


Racing and Sports

Caulfield

Saturday, 18th October 2025

9
ET

Sportsbet Caulfield Cup (G1)

Age: 3yo and up Type: OPEN
1 ½ m TURF GOOD
9

(local)
AUD $5,330,000
1 ½ m GOOD

Sportsbet Caulfield Cup (G1)

Age: 3yo and up Type: OPEN


FP Silk Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 15. HALF YOURS (AUS) 5yo G
ST JEAN (IRE) - LA GAZELLE (AUS)
JAMIE MELHAM
TONY & CALVIN MCEVOY
$2.5
52.5kg
Kildalton Park Racing (Mgr: D Gordon), J B Biasin, D J Canny, G M Fox, Mrs G M Smith, J M Simmons, N B Smith, P R Farley, S M George, Terrace No 3 (Mgr: R H Allert) & A Guoga

Sales Information

2nd 13. RIVER OF STARS (IRE) 6yo M
SEA THE STARS (IRE) - AMAZONE (GER)
BEAU MERTENS
CHRIS WALLER
$91
53.5kg
Yu Long Investments (Mgr: Y Zhang)

Sales Information

3rd 17. VALIANT KING (GB) 5yo G
ROARING LION (USA) - ASSEMBLY (USA)
JYE MCNEIL
CHRIS WALLER
$26
52kg
A Kheir, Qatar Bloodstock Ltd (Mgr: D Redvers), J A O'Neill, YES Bloodstock (Mgr: B Sokolski), Carty Racing (Mgr: B Carty), A K Racing (Mgr: Ms K Solomon), BDTJJ Racing (Mgr: D Edmonds), B D Nettlefold, Solscaf Racing (Mgr: A Scafidi), T R Maddern & Bromfield Park Pty Ltd (Mgr: W Pearce)

Sales Information

4th 2. PRESAGE NOCTURNE (IRE) 5yo H
WOOTTON BASSETT (GB) - KYUREM (IRE)
STEPHANE PASQUIER
ALESSANDRO BOTTI
$61
57.5kg

Sales Information

5th 16. ROYAL SUPREMACY (IRE) 4yo G
MAKE BELIEVE (GB) - ADELASIA (IRE)
ROBBIE DOLAN
CIARON MAHER
$8.5
52.5kg

Sales Information

6th 14. BIRDMAN (IRE) 4yo G
FREE EAGLE (IRE) - CAROL (IRE)
TEO NUGENT
CHRIS WALLER
$21
52.5kg
7th 5. ABSURDE (FR) 7yo G
FASTNET ROCK (AUS) - INCROYABLE (USA)
BEN ALLEN
WILLIE MULLINS
$26
55.5kg

Sales Information

8th 10. DEAKIN (FR) 5yo G
AUSTRALIA (GB) - DEALBATA (IRE)
DANIEL STACKHOUSE
PHILLIP STOKES
$13
54kg

Sales Information

9th 4. MEYDAAN (IRE) 4yo G
FRANKEL (GB) - NEZWAAH (GB)
ANDREA ATZENI
SIMON & ED CRISFORD
$15
56kg
10th 7. ZARDOZI (AUS) 5yo M
KINGMAN (GB) - CHANDERI (GB)
HARRY COFFEY
CIARON MAHER
$51
54.5kg
11th 3. MIDDLE EARTH (GB) 5yo G
ROARING LION (USA) - ROHERYN (IRE)
MARK ZAHRA
CIARON MAHER
$15
56.5kg
12th 8. ADELAIDE RIVER (IRE) 5yo G
AUSTRALIA (GB) - COULD IT BE LOVE (USA)
JORDAN CHILDS
KRIS LEES
$18
54kg

Sales Information

13th 1. VAUBAN (FR) 7yo G
GALIWAY (GB) - WALDFEST (GB)
BLAKE SHINN
GAI WATERHOUSE & ADRIAN BOTT
$8.5
58.5kg
14th 11. GOLDEN SNAP (JPN) 5yo M
GOLD SHIP (JPN) - MEISHO J (JPN)
S HAMANAKA
KATSUNORI TANAKA
$19
53.5kg
15th 18. PLYMOUTH (AUS) 4yo G
THE AUTUMN SUN (AUS) - MALFY (AUS)
CELINE GAUDRAY
BEN, WILL & JD HAYES
$61
51kg

Sales Information

16th 9. BANKERS CHOICE (NZ) 8yo G
MONGOLIAN KHAN (AUS) - SIGNORINA (NZ)
BILLY EGAN
BEN, WILL & JD HAYES
$81
54kg

Sales Information

17th 12. REVELARE (AUS) 5yo G
SO YOU THINK (NZ) - REVEAL THE GODDESS (NZ)
LUKE CURRIE
ROBERT HICKMOTT
$41
53.5kg

Sales Information

18th 6. LAND LEGEND (FR) 5yo G
GALILEO (IRE) - LANDIKUSIC (IRE)
JAMIE MOTT
CHRIS WALLER
$61
55.5kg

Sales Information