A champion of the 1950's, Delta easily dominated the best colts of the era in a remarkable career

Delta foaled in 1946 was a champion Australian thoroughbred racehorse who raced from a two-year-old to a six year-old from distances of 6 furlongs to 2 miles. Champion jockey Neville Sellwood won 22 races on the horse, including the 1949 VRC Derby, 1949 Cox Plate and the 1951 Melbourne Cup. Neville Sellwood was also the regular jockey of the illustrious champions Tulloch and Todman, forming a formidable partnership with former jockey and Delta's trainer, Maurice McCarten.

Sir Adolf Basser (1887-1964) was a distinguished optician, jeweler, and philanthropist from Sydney who held a profound interest in scientific and medical research. In 1959, Sir Adolf generously established the Basser College at the University of New South Wales in Kensington, Sydney. Each year at the Sydney Yearling Sale, he would meticulously select and purchase well-bred and valuable colts, primarily with the noble aspiration of winning the prestigious AJC Derby, a cherished ambition of his. In 1948, Adolph Basser acquired a colt for the sum of £2,665 at the Sydney Yearling Sales who turned out to be a champion that satisfied his expectations.

Delta raced between 1949 -1952 for five seasons, winning seven major races in succession between 1951 and 1952, including a rare triple win in the Chelmsford Stakes. In addition, he also triumphed over the formidable champions, Hydrogen and New Zealand champion colt, Dalray. Delta's win made Randwick history by completing four wins in a row on the card for the Maurice McCarten - Neville Sellwood combination. The Chelmsford Stakes marked Hydrogen’s first clash with Delta, the horse that would prove his nemesis for the balance of the season. As an older six-year-old, Delta easily defeated the champion Hydrogen in the 1952 Chelmsford Stakes, setting an Australasian record for the nine furlongs.

It was reported at the time that Delta simply played with Australia’s best colt, Hydrogen in the 1952 Chipping Norton Stakes at Randwick, bounding away to win convincingly. Delta won the 1951 Melbourne Cup sandwiched in between Comic Court and Dalray and missed most of his four year old season, in which case he might have been even better still. But nevertheless he also managed to win the Cox Plate, VRC Derby and VRC St. Leger as a three-year-old and also the Metropolitan Handicap and Mackinnon Stakes at five. He had to carry the topweight of 9st 5lb (59.5kg) in both the Cup and Metropolitan and won more races then any other Australian horse within a single season. The final Chelmsford run proved to be his last start as soon after reoccurring injury problems forced his retirement.

Delta, Australia's No.1 racehorse at the time was retired to be used as a stallion at Widden Stud. Arrangements were made to take Delta to Widden with a stud fee of 300 guineas, a record for an Australian-bred sire. At the time Delta ranked fifth in fhe list of great Australian winners. His record stood at 22 wins, five seconds, and two thirds and £48,169 in stakes from 41 starts. Above him in the list at the time were, Shannon with £84,648 (all but £18,987 won in America). Phar Lap £66,738, of which £56.425 was won in Australia), Comic Court, £48,579, and Amounis, £48,297. A fear that Delta might break down influenced the decision to sell the horse without further racing. He died in 1960 at Widden Stud.

RACE RECORD - 41: 22-6-2

EARNINGS - £48,801

Canterbury Guineas (1949)

VRC Derby (1949)

W S Cox Plate (1949)

VRC St Leger (1950)

VRC Kings Plate (1950)

AJC Randwick Plate (1950)

Colin Stephen Stakes (1950, 1951)

Chelmsford Stakes (1950, 1951, 1952)

Metropolitan Handicap (1951)

Mackinnon Stakes (1951)

Melbourne Cup (1951)

St George Stakes (1952)

VRC Queens Plate (1952)

VRC Carbine Stakes (1952)

Chipping Norton Stakes (1952)

AJC Cumberland Stakes (1952)