Sir Delius has booked his ticket towards Australia’s biggest spring features with a dramatic victory in Saturday’s Group 1 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield.

Well backed at $2.10, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained galloper refused to lie down, clawing back Buckaroo ($4.80) late to win by a neck, with Golden Path ($21) close behind in third.

Waterhouse was left beaming after the stable’s third Underwood success in four years. “It’s the most exciting thing I’ve seen in years,” she said. “He wasn’t in a good spot and certainly didn’t look any good thing in the straight, but when he saw the post, he lifted.”

The son of Sea The Stars had been a narrow runner-up in the Chelmsford Stakes and Bott opted to send him south for the Underwood. Now he will follow a Caulfield path towards the Might And Power, the Cox Plate and ultimately the Melbourne Cup.

Waterhouse drew parallels with Fiorente, her 2013 Cup winner. “They’re both handsome horses with great temperaments and a will to win,” she said.

Craig Williams praised Sir Delius’ determination after being headed. “He’s just such a weapon. When Blake came past on Buckaroo I thought we were gone, but he fought like a lion. He’s got that Dunaden-like grit.”