Assistant trainer Tommy Stokes says the team has taken a patient, deliberate approach to his preparation. “He’s had seven weeks off at our Garfield farm, and the next four weeks after that we’ve been getting a good base fitness into him without him really realising it. It’s like he’s still having a spell but getting fit at the same time, which has been really good for him mentally ... It’s very important, getting to a grand final over 3200, to have that big base of fitness under him, so we’re heading in the right direction,” said Stokes.
The plan is set: Deakin will return in the Memsie Stakes on August 30, before progressing to the Makybe Diva Stakes, Turnbull Stakes, and Caulfield Cup on his way to the Lexus Melbourne Cup.
“He’s a very flashy horse, and he definitely turns a lot of heads in the mounting yard ... It’s really a dream … so if we stick to the plan and nothing goes wrong, we really think we’ve got the right horse for the race this year,” said Stokes.
