Chelmsford likely starting point for Cup fancy

Promising Tulloch Lodge stayers Sir Delius and Alalcance are heading towards Group 1 targets.

The Melbourne Cup has been circled as the spring goal for import Sir Delius but the path he takes to get there is yet to be determined.

Along with stablemate Vauban and star mare Via Sistina, Sir Delius is an $11 equal favourite for Australia's most famous race.

While that target is still more than three months away, his journey there has already begun, the Group 1 placegetter stepping out in a 1000m barrier trial at Warwick Farm last Friday to kick start his second local campaign.

"It's very early in his prep and he obviously wasn't out there to do too much the other day but he has come back in really good shape," co-trainer Adrian Bott said.

"We might see him kick off in the Chelmsford (Stakes) or a race like that, so there is still a bit of time."

Sir Delius claimed the Group 3 Chairman's Handicap (2000m) at Doomben at his only Australian appearance in May before Bott and training partner Gai Waterhouse set him aside for the spring.

Connections are happy to keep their plans fluid and give Sir Delius a gradual build up with Bott indicating he could be given another couple of trials before he resumes.

"The ultimate aim is the Melbourne Cup for him. Everything in between is still quite open," he said.

"It was a positive first prep for him and he seems to have come back really well."

Stablemate Alalcance stretched her legs in the same 1000m heat on Friday as she begins a campaign geared towards the Group 1 Metropolitan (2400m) in October.

The mare dominated from the front to win her first three starts during the Sydney autumn and Bott said she had come to the end of her preparation when she disappointed as favourite in the Sydney Cup (3200m).

"She had probably just reached the end of it by then but she can show nice improvement this prep," Bott said.

"She is one that never trials that flash and she was just beaten for speed the other day. We will see her a few more times at the trials before she steps out."

Bott is also bullish on the spring prospects of the unbeaten Agarwood, a dominant winner of her 822m heat on Friday.

The stable regard her as the cream of their three-year-old fillies and she is being prepared for the early Princess Series races, starting with the Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) on August 23.

"I would say she'd be the benchmark for us," Bott said.

"She will have another trial and then we'll see her step out, but she has improved off the filly that we saw the last two times during the winter."