Delectation to resume in Eskimo Prince Stakes

Three year old Delectation will give trainer Chris Waller a good pointer if he is to be sprinter or a miler when he resumes on Saturday in the Group 3 $150,000 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill.

Delectation is resuming in the Eskimo Prince Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

Delectation is resuming in the Eskimo Prince Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

Delectation is one of four Waller gallopers nominated for the three year old contest and is having his first start since running second to stablemate Brazen Beau in the Group 1 $500,000 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on the first day of the 2014 Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Waller’s other entries are the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes winner Kermadec, and restricted class winners Quick Strike and Harrier Jet.

Delectation is also among the entries for the Group 1 $500,000 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 7 and the Group 1 $1m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) down the Flemington straight the following week and Waller will decide later in his campaign which way the colt’s Autumn preparation will go.

“The whole of his last preparation was spent trying to get him to switch off,” Waller told AAP.

“He is now starting to come of age mentally and his Coolmore placing shows what is capable of doing.

“But whether he is a sprinter or can be stretched to a mile, I’m still not sure.”

Delectation has raced ten times, recording three wins in his two year old season before being sent for a spell.

When he returned to racing in the Spring, Waller immediately stepped the Shamardal gelding up to Listed grade resulting in a fourth to Kuro in the Listed 100,000 Schweppes Heritage Stakes (1100m) at Randwick on September 20.

At his next outing Delectation raced up to leaders in the straight before finishing third to Brazen Beau in the Group 2 $175,000 Sydney City Toyota Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) at Randwick followed by a fourth to Kuro again in the Listed $100,000 Aristocrat Brian Crowley Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on October 18 before heading to Melbourne for the Coolmore Stud Stakes.

While Kermadec and Quick Score are also resuming, Harrier Jet is stepping up to Group 3 level following a win and three placings in restricted grade during his current campaign.

Kermadec will be having his first start since winning the Group 3 $200,000 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on November 1 while Quick Score hasn’t been to the races since scoring his second win in a three year old BenchMark66 Handicap over 1600m at Warwick Farm on October 29 last year.

The well performed Scissor Kick heads the weights with 58.5kg in the Eskimo Prince Stakes and is also resuming after not having raced since finishing ninth in the Coolmore Stud Stakes with his best performance being a second, three starts back, to Hallowed Crown in the Group 1 $1m De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill during the 2014 Sydney Spring Carnival.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.