Damien Oliver substituted for race jockey Nash Rawiller aboard Fiorente at trackwork at Flemington on Tuesday and delivered a glowing report on the likely Turnbull Stakes favourite.

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Trainer Gai Waterhouse said Fiorente, and her other horse nominated for the race, Glencadam Gold, were “fabulous chances” and predicted they could run the quinella in the $500,0000 Group One race.

“Damien partnered him this morning and he said Fiorente was really fluid in his action and glided over 1400 metres on the dirt,” Waterhouse said.

“I had the option of using the course proper but it was so windy here today I didn’t.

“Both horses are on their home track and could easily run first and second.”

There are 31 nominations for the Turnbull which will be whittled down to 16 with Glencadam Gold, among 16 Group One winners in the entries, the second emergency as things stand before acceptances.

Darren Weir, the trainer of Melbourne Cup favourite Puissance de Lune, which is 17th in the order, is also counting on an attrition rate.

Much will depend on what owner Lloyd Williams decides to do with his team including 2012 Turnbull winner Green Moon.

Glencadam Gold, who ran second at his last start, the Group Two Hill Stakes at Randwick behind Moriarty – is being targeted at the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.

In last year’s Melbourne Cup, the six-year-old gelding finished sixth after leading for much of the race.

“Even though he has been racing back in the field, he is more a front running horse while Fiorente can take a position anywhere,” Waterhouse said.

Rawiller is giving up mounts at Sydney’s premier spring meeting at Randwick to partner Fiorente in the Turnbull.

At his first Australian start, Fiorente finished second to Green Moon in the 2012 Melbourne Cup.

He had just one autumn start when third in the All Aged Stakes won by All Too Hard.

This campaign has reaped a sixth in the Memsie Stakes and victory in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes last month.