The stellar ten race card will take place at headquarters this Saturday, headlined with the running of the Group One Turnbull Stakes.
The 2000m feature is one of the key lead up races for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups and this year’s edition will see a full field of Cup aspirants assemble.
Much of the early focus has been on the Hong Kong visitor and dual Group One winner Romantic Warrior who will lead out the field, which will also include last year’s Melbourne Cup hero Gold Trip and runner up Emissary.
Other feature races on the card include the Group Three Bart Cummings and Group Two Gilgai Stakes, with a total of nine black type events to be contested on the day.
The rail will be out 9m for the entire circuit and the track is currently rated a soft 6.
Our Ladbrokes preview can be found below.
Race 1 - 12:25pm AEDT
HQ TAVERN SPRINT BM78 (1200 METRES)
Bews has performed well in all three starts since returning from a long lay off.
The talented son of I Am Invincible kicked off his campaign with a dominant win on the Lakeside and has finished a narrow runner up in two subsequent runs.
Last time here over the 1100m he charged through in restricted room to just go down by a slender margin.
The step to 1200m looks ideal and Jamie Kah will take the mount for the Price / Kent team.
1 unit – BEWS
Race 2 - 12:55pm AEDT
DARLEY MARIBYRNONG TRIAL STAKES 2YO LISTED (1000 METRES)
Bodyguard has only been given the one public trial and there was a lot to like about his performance.
The high priced son of I Am Invincible looked very professional in the heat and he was pushed out strongly so he knows what it’s all about.
The form from the trial has already been franked as he went to the line alongside Espionage, who subsequently went on to salute in the Breeders’ Plate last Saturday.
Craig Williams will do the steering for elite two year old conditioners, Peter and Paul Snowden.
1 unit – BODYGUARD
Race 3 - 1:30pm AEDT
ABC BULLION SUPER IMPOSE STAKES 3Y0 LISTED (1800 METRES)
Apulia was dominant when saluting first-up over 1500m at Cranbourne.
The colt then caught the eye last start around Moonee Valley, after getting back in a hotly run race he was under pressure early to get moving and flashed home late to finish second.
He showed his class last campaign with a terrific effort to claim second in the Group Two VRC Sires Produce Stakes and gave the impression he’ll continue to improve as he gets out over further.
Set to contest the Victoria Derby Preview here a fortnight ago until an incident at the gates resulted in him being a late scratching.
He’s been given an 800m jump out to keep him ticking over and the 1800m here looks ideal for this son of Fiorente.
Mark Zahra retains the ride for Team Hayes, the blinkers go back on and the barrier blanket has been added to keep him calm in the gates.
1 unit – APULIA
Race 4 - 2:05pm AEDT
EDWARD MANIFOLD STAKES 3YO FILLIES GROUP 2 (1600 METRES)
De Sonic Boom has been working home strongly in recent outings.
The Spirit of Boom filly charged to the line behind Charm Stone in the Atlantic Jewel two runs back and last start, when stepping out to 1400m she was again doing her best work late.
Up to the mile looks ideal and I think she’ll relish the big Flemington straight in the Edward Manifold Stakes.
Daniel Moor retains the ride for Anthony and Sam Freedman.
1 unit – DE SONIC BOOM
Race 5 - 2:40pm AEDT
WORLD POOL DANEHILL STAKES 3YO GROUP 2 (1100 METRES)
A winner at his first two outings in the autumn, I Am Unstoppable has returned in fine order with two solid performances at Stakes level this campaign.
The son of I Am Invincible was brilliant first up behind Cylinder in the Vain Stakes and was unlucky not to have gone one better when finishing runner up in the Poseidon last time.
Held up at a vital stage, he charged home over the final 150m taking ground off eventual winner Archo Nacho.
Having ridden him all four starts, Zac Spain will continue his association with the talented colt in the Danehill Stakes.
1 unit – I AM UNSTOPPABLE
Race 6 - 3:15pm AEDT
FURPHY ROSE F KINGSTON STAKES MARES GROUP 2 (1400 METRES)
Princess Grace will start a well deserved favourite here after three solid performances at Group One level this campaign.
A multiple stakes winner, she finished the runner up in the Winx Stakes and then the Memsie Stakes before a gallant effort to finish fourth in the Makybe Diva Stakes here last start.
The American bred mare boasts an enviable record, she drops back in grade against her own sex and with four weeks since her last run, the step back to 1400m in the Rose Of Kingston Stakes looks ideal.
James McDonald will take the mount for Chris Waller and she’ll be presented with every chance from barrier five.
3 units – PRINCESS GRACE
Race 7 - 3:50pm AEDT
THE LEXUS BART CUMMINGS GROUP 3 HANDICAP (2520 METRES)
First Immortal stamped himself as a serious Cups contender with a commanding win under 63kgs last start.
The son of Churchill has always shown good staying ability and his record now reflects that with seven wins from just thirteen starts.
This will be his toughest test to date but he’s worked through his grades in good style and he’ll certainly appreciate the 9kg weight drop.
The four year old has won three from four here at his home track, Daniel Stackhouse takes the mount and if he can overcome barrier 20, he’ll make his presence felt.
1 unit – FIRST IMMORTAL
Race 8 - 4:25pm AEDT
TAB TURNBULL STAKES GROUP 1 (2000 METRES)
Soulcombe kicked off his spring campaign in fine style when saluting in the Heatherlie.
The former European import then backed up that win with a stellar performance to finish fourth in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes.
Notorious for being the last to leave the gates, the son of Frankel settled back worse than midfield and powered home late to finish 1.4 lengths of eventual winner Alligator Blood.
He’ll relish the step to 2000m and will enjoy getting back to Flemington.
With Blake Shinn sidelined, Craig Williams goes onboard for champion trainer Chris Waller.
1 unit – SOULCOMBE
Race 9 - 5:05pm AEST
GILGAI STAKES GROUP 2 (1200 METRES)
C’est Magique returned off a long break with a solid effort in the Cockram Stakes as she travelled strongly throughout and held her ground well to the line.
Only lightly raced, with just the five starts to her name, the Zoustar mare put the writing on the wall last preparation when finishing runner up behind In Secret in the Coolmore Stud Stakes.
She will have taken plenty of benefit from her first up outing and will enjoy getting back to the Flemington straight where she appears best suited.
Michael Dee retains the ride for Graham Begg and the soft conditions will only enhance her chances.
1 unit – C’EST MAGIQUE
Race 10 - 5:40pm AEST
WORLD POOL PARIS LANE STAKES LISTED HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
He may not have won for ten months but Umgawa is never far away.
The six year old has finished a length from the winner at his past four outings, all at stakes level, and he looks well placed here to return to the winner’s stall.
He gets in nicely with 54kgs on his back and team Corstens have engaged Harry Coffey to do the steering.
From barrier five he should enjoy a dream run and he’ll be right there fighting out the finish.
1 unit – UMGAWA