Hall Of Fame trainer Leon Macdonald admits Dalasan’s Caulfield Cup or Cox Plate dreams could rest on him winning Saturday’s red-hot $500,000 Group 1 TAB Turnbull Stakes at Flemington.
Dalasan has been beaten less than two lengths in all three runs in his four-year-old campaign, the latest behind Fierce Impact in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes over 1600m.
Macdonald said a perfect barrier and stepping out to 2000m were ideal for the richly talented entire, who is chasing an elusive Group 1 victory.
“I think he gets his chance from the good draw,” Macdonald said on RSN.
“When you’re running in Group 1 level, they’re never handed to you on a plate.”
Macdonald and co-trainer Andrew Gluyas have tried to dodge bumping his South Australian Derby nemesis Russian Camelot as they progress towards some of the Melbourne Spring Carnival majors and said the horse had progressed well at home.
“He’s only had the three runs,” Macdonald said.
“It is three weeks since the Makybe Diva, we decided to dodge the Underwood last week (because) we thought Russian Camelot would be pretty hard to beat – and he was.
“He’s done well here (at home) and he should run well. He’s always around the mark, he never runs a bad race, but he is finding it hard to win one.”
Macdonald said there plenty of other options should the horse miss a start in either the Caulfield Cup or Cox Plate.
“I think he’s possibly got to win (the Turnbull) to go to either of those races,” Macdonald said.
“If he doesn’t there is the Coongy (Cup) which would suit him back a grade or two to a Group 3.
“We’ll wait until after Saturday.”
Macdonald said punters should remain faithful to Dalasan in the Turnbull where he’s marked a $17 chance with tab.com.au. The Chris Waller-trainer Verry Elleegant is a $4.40 favourite ahead of 2019 Adelaide Cup winner Surprise Baby ($6).
“If they’ve been backing him, stick with him,” Macdonald said. “He’s going to be good odds.”
And locally he’s expecting the in-form Pearl Bandit to continue his solid form, chasing his fourth win in seven starts at Morphettville on the Parks track.
“He’s our best chance here,” Macdonald said.
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