Sir Delius’s owner, Sir Owen Glenn, remains frustrated over the withdrawal of the horse from last year’s Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup, and is uncertain about participating in the upcoming Melbourne Cup at Flemington this weekend.

Last spring, Victorian stewards ordered Sir Delius to be scratched from both major races after specialist veterinary advice, based on CT scans, indicated the horse was at increased risk of injury. Sir Owen Glenn has strongly disputed the decision, insisting multiple independent veterinarians who examined Sir Delius found no issues warranting the withdrawal.

"He would have won the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup last year, that obviously doesn’t make me happy," Sir Owen said. He described the outcome as disheartening and reflective of an overreach of bureaucracy, which he believes unfairly impacted the horse’s racing schedule. Despite the setback, Sir Delius went on to claim a Group 1 victory in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes later that year.

For this year’s Cox Plate, scheduled for Saturday, Sir Delius has been cleared to compete. However, participation in the Melbourne Cup will depend on completing the required mandatory scanning process to ensure his fitness, in line with veterinary protocols designed to protect horses from potential injury during racing.

Sir Owen’s uncertainty about attending the Melbourne Cup underscores ongoing tensions between owners and regulatory authorities concerning racehorse welfare assessments and the interpretation of veterinary advice. The outcome for Sir Delius in this year’s spring racing remains to be seen, pending further medical clearance.