Sires To Reward Luckless Deltason

After a roller-coaster ride, trainer Hayley's smart 2YO is right on target for Ascot G3

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PERTH - It has not been the smoothest of preparations for Deltason, but trainer Meryl Hayley thinks it can end on a positive note when her promising juvenile tackles the final big race of the two-year-old season at Ascot on May 10.

After a late scratching in the Perth Stakes (1,100m), Deltason missed out on a run in the Group 2 Karrakatta Plate (1,200m) on April 26 by narrowly missing the cut for prize money criteria.

But the talented two-year-old can regroup in the A$200,000 (S$167,000) Group 3 WA Sires Produce Stakes (1,400m).

Deltason goes into the final run of his campaign in winning form after breaking his maiden status in dominant fashion on April 30, kicking clear and drawing away to win by 3¼ lengths when stepping up over 1,400m.

Since making his debut in March, the son of I'm All The Talk always appeared to be a horse looking for more ground than 1,000m, and ticking the 1,400m box last start has given Hayley a sharp confidence boost.

"We were really looking forward to the 1,400m," said Hayley in an interview to TABradio.

"Like everyone else, we knew he would get the trip and it was good to get him across the line to be honest.

"We were just praying there were no more barrier disasters with the horse.