The Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) is a wide-open field of 17 runners, including last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist. Join us before the race start time of 4:10pm (AEST) for tips, commentary and late mail.
A great field here and I am going with Preferment at any old price ($17), after his form out of the Hill Stakes. He hasn’t been out of the quinella at the distance and has performed solidly on good tracks.
Royal Descent gets in well at the weights and has been racing well of late. However she is a wet tracker, meaning I will include her in the exotics. She is the current race favourite at $5.50.
Alpine Eagle has been solid at this track – beating Stratum Star and Kermadec – but there are plenty of question marks about him over the distance. At $6 he is hard to take in a race with so much value.
Luckless in the Makybe Diva was Volkstok’n’barrell, with trainer Donna Logan saying the horse wasn’t quite fit enough last start. Has had one start over this distance for a win, and has a solid record on a good track. Must be a threat and $14 is good value.
Hartnell will be better second up, he trialled superbly so will be right up to this and can win at $8.
Happy Trails continues to be an honest runner. Had no luck in the Memsie and was sound in the Makybe, won this race in 2013 and has a good Flemington record. Is he value at $13?
Amralah cruised home in Adelaide and is short at $6.50 because of it. This race should prove much harder but there is some big upside to this horse, with no question marks over the distance.
Weary won’t get the surface, he needs to win but has not been there in his last two starts.
Rising Romance is a big one to watch after a slashing second in the Makybe. Performs well over this distance, so $11 is good value.
Who Shot Thebarman has bigger fish to fry this preparation but is tracking nicely regardless. Goes well at this distance so could be some great value at $17.
It’s D-Day for Dandino, who is back to a distance he prefers. He has been luckless this preparation but should be fit after three runs. Could today be the day? $21 is a handy quote if it is.
Protectionist hasn’t been the same horse that won the Melbourne Cup last year but a win wouldn’t shock at $67.
Extra Zero is one to watch after just being shaded in the Australian Cup in his last 2000m run here. Could be the value at $34.
The only other runner of interest is Set Square, with the stable flying this horse suddenly comes into contention, and at $26 is worth a look.
Tips
1. Preferment 2. Volkstok’n’barrell 3. Rising Romance 4. Set Sqaure
Bondy
Guest
Preferment is now a real danger in anything he wants to contest and was the only horse to pull solid ground back yesterday , Hartnell's run was only fair, again .
Razzar
Guest
Quality of our group stocks are so poor at present, as the reality another 8yo should have won the Turnball today. Happy trails. A bunched finish only amplifys where our stocks are at.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Bang bang! Preferment from Royal Descent Set Square is third and Dandino is fourth.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Starter is there as Rising Romance comes in and we are off! Happy Trails and Magicool done well same with Weary, Hartnell goes back and Volkstok'n'barrell is there with Weary tracking the outside. Set Square and Magicool not far away, Preferment with Gust of Wind. Weary stuck out wide and has finally crossed Volk, now Dandino, Happy Trails and Amrahlah worse than midfield as they swing for home. Weary from Volk and Dandino, Volk runs to the lead, Descent coming but Preferment just I think!
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Runners behind the barrier now.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Amrahlah is the market mover.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Protectionist looks really nice, Royal Descent also looks a picture.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Just seven minutes from the start here. A lot of love for Dandino with the experts.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Preferment has also received some small backing while Volkstok'n'barrell is drifting. Rising Romance also well in the market.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Hartnell, Amrahlah and Royal Descent fighting out favouritsm there is some love for Who Shot Thebarman and Happy Trails.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
In other news Lets make adeal is into the Melbourne Cup after winning the previous race.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Afternoon everyone and welcome to the live blog of the 2015 Turnbull Stakes.
tim
Guest
leaderish today
Haradasun
Roar Rookie
Not sure why you think Royal Descent is a wet tracker. She came within the tightest of margins of winning an epsom on a good track last spring, ran second to sacred falls in the george main when she got held up for a run and bloused them this prep in the warwick stakes first up..also on a good track. All the melb runners have been finishing in a heap, so looking at preferment/Royal descent for new form lines. She will go close today and at the weights, I am all in.
Razzar
Guest
Amralah in the Turnbull is racing. Amerela is scratched from r8, Sorry bout that. But this will help the tempo in Turnball. Should make it a honest race, giving all runners a chance.
Rabs
Guest
Initially I liked set square with the blinkers on first time. However might just need this run to top her off for C Cup. She's my c cup horse. In going weary. Did back through his form, 2nd to pornichet in doomben cup on GOOD track. I don't subscribe he's a wet tracker. No pace on, have a gut feel he might push forward to sit in top 6. His lead up runs has been better than all of them from wide barriers. Worthy Cause from QLD in the last. Giddy up
Razzar
Guest
Is it D Day for Hartnell. Right at his career crossroads for this punter. The Turnball, now with Amralah scratched, leaves Volsstocknbarrel the likely pace setter. Who knows where Hartnell lands, but Volks is on a big track, fitter should get around the money. The Chester manifold looks a ripper, been Exhausting' doing the form. Plenty of pace here, a runner-on should win here. Don't doubt mama and Sacred eye are the in form girls. But I'm rarely a favourite punter. Because, well, they don't win often enough. Plus a million other reasons. So we need value, Born Magic's going nicely, a sit-backer, raced on wrong part of track at the Heath. 26$ fixed. That'll do, nice overs.... Might just take a tri' with the two fav's. Might be good insurance.