Gai Waterhouse, much like her father Tommy Smith, has long been a central figure during the Melbourne Spring Carnival.

With training partner Adrian Bott based in Sydney, Waterhouse has been able to spend more time in Melbourne during the spring season.

Waterhouse visited Flemington earlier this week and plans to reside in Melbourne after Sir Delius contests the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday, remaining until the conclusion of Melbourne Cup week.

Having already secured a Melbourne Cup and a Caulfield Cup, Waterhouse aims to join her father as a Cox Plate-winning trainer and ‘complete the set’.

Last year’s quest for the Cox Plate was unfortunately halted for Waterhouse when a standing CT and PET scan, performed in readiness for the Melbourne Cup, indicated that Sir Delius was at a heightened risk of injury.

Sir Delius had previously triumphed in the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield and the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington, and was considered a leading fancy for both races.

The entire colt returned in the autumn to win his ‘Grand Final’, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick, following placings in the Verry Elleegant Stakes and Ranvet Stakes.

A similar program is in place for Sir Delius in Melbourne this spring, with Saturday’s 1600m race to be followed by the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 3, and then the Cox Plate (2000m) three weeks later.

Waterhouse stated that winning the autumn ‘Grand Final’ was a marvellous feat.

“(Jockey) Craig (Williams), Adrian and I had discussed different ways of riding him and I can be a bit vocal about those things, but we got what we wanted,” Waterhouse commented.

“It was the big prize that we were heading for.

“We live the dream and that’s why we come every year, so hopefully the dream will be the Cox Plate this year.

“It’s interesting that it is at Flemington this year. It will definitely suit this horse.”

Sir Delius has been in Melbourne for just over a week in preparation for Saturday’s return, and Waterhouse mentioned that the entire is prepared to run well.

“He’s a happy horse and he’s pretty fit,” Waterhouse said.

“I think these are good races and they’re stepping stones to where you want to be.

“It (Saturday) is a Group 1 race worth a lot of money and a lot of prestige and he’s an entire and a Group 1 adds to his value as a stallion.

“I think it will be a hard race to win, but we’re in it, and will give it a shake.”

Consider placing a wager on the Makybe Diva Stakes through available racing odds.