THE TURNBULL STAKES – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
HISTORY: First run 1948 when won by Beau Gem. Handicap until 1963. Weight-for-age 1964-70. Now set weights and penalties
* Group One since 2006
NOTABLE WINNERS: Comic Court (1949-50), Rising Fast (1954), Redcraze (1955), Tobin Bronze (1966), Galilee (1968), Leilani (1974, Denise’s Joy (1976), Dulcify (1979), Vo Rogue (1987-88), Super Impose (1989), Better Loosen Up (1990), Let’s Elope (1991), Naturalism (1992), Sunline (2001), Northerly (2002), Makybe Diva (2005), Efficient (2009) and Green Moon (2012)
TALKING POINTS:
* Turnbull-Caulfield Cup double since 1984: Elvstroem (2004), Northerly (2002), Sky Heights (1999) and Let’s Elope (1991)
* Turnbull-Cox Plate double since 1984: Makybe Diva (2005), Northerly (2002), The Phantom Chance (1993), Better Loosen Up (1990)
* Turnbull-Melbourne Cup double since 1984: Green Moon (2012), Makybe Diva (2005) and Let’s Elope (1991)
* Makybe Diva claimed Turnbull-Cox Plate-Melbourne Cup treble and Northerly the Turnbull-Caulfield Cup-Cox Plate treble
RACE ANALYSIS
PATTERN: Crackerjack King’s scratching leaves Entirely Platinum and import Thought Worthy as most obvious to race from front. Timing right for The Offer to press forward for first time this campaign. Puissance De Lune races close from inside barrier and Gris Caro sat outside leader before winning a muddling-run Naturalism Stakes. Look for Silent Achiever and Lucia Valentina to hit line
FANCIED RUNNERS: A wide-open Turnbull with Lucia Valentina, Puissance De Lune, Happy Trials and Silent Achiever vying for favouritism. Lucia Valentina is the Caulfield Cup favourite drawn to have economical run behind speed. Happy Trails beat Puissance De Lune in last year’s Turnbull and is coming right
BEST OF THE OUTSIDERS: Hawkspur keeps producing. Switched from Sydney for this, the Chris Waller star was unlucky behind Happy Trails in 2013. Double-figure odds appeals. Super Cool much-improved in Underwood, coming from 10th to finish 2.5 lengths from Foreteller
CUPS ANGLE: Except internationals, most horses rated Cup chances line up including Lucia Valentina, Silent Achiever, The Offer, Green Moon and Sertorius
