There is no shortage of class in this year’s G1 Turnbull Stakes with nine of the 16 runners having previously won at the highest level.
The $750k feature headlines Saturday’s Flemington meeting with the Chris Waller-trained pair Via Sistina and Buckeroo jockeying for favouritism.
The champion trainer dominated this race between 2015 and 2021 with five of the six winners coming from his stable including the racing royalty duo of Winx (2017, 2018) and Verry Elleegant in 2021.
Ciaron Maher has won the past two editions of the race and this year will be represented by Melbourne Cup aspirant Circle Of Fire and Duke De Sessa.
Since the turn of the century, the list of winners reads as a who’s who of champion gallopers and includes names like Sunline, Northerly, Makybe Diva and Gold Trip.
Which horse will put their name in lights this Saturday as the 2024 Turnbull Stakes winner?
We’ll do our best to answer that question in our comprehensive look at each horse in this year’s field. (Prices current at time of publish)
1. Circle Of Fire (11)
Price: $67.00
The son of Almanzor made an inauspicious return to the races last start in the G1 Makybe Diva Stakes when eased down to finish 21.5 lengths last.
He won the G1 Sydney Cup at the end of last preparation and I would suggest that connections will just want to see him finding the line with a view towards the Melbourne Cup.
2. Bois D’argent (14)
Price: $67.00
The son of Toronado was very good during the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival which included a win the G1 Doomben Cup.
Following some lacklustre trials, it wasn’t surprising that the Neasham & Archibald-trained gelding turned in a plain performance when resuming in the G1 Underwood Stakes.
I’m happy to let him go around without me but I will be a keen observer to see if he can bounce back and produce a performance befitting of a Ladbrokes Cox Plate or Caulfield Cup contender.
3. Buckaroo (8)
Price: $4.20
A gelding procedure ahead of this preparation has worked wonders and we’re now seeing a new and improved horse.
Following an eye-catching performance in the G1 Winx Stakes first-up, the Chris Waller-trained son of Fastnet Rock mustered plenty of strength to win the G2 Chelmsford Stakes.
He came to Melbourne for the Underwood Stakes and handled racing the opposite direction with aplomb, demoralising his rivals in a 3.5 length victory.
The rise to 2000m suits now that he is at peak fitness and he did finish 1.4 lengths third to Via Sistina over the trip in the G1 Ranvet Stakes prior to being gelded.
He is clearly one of the major players and warrants being hard in the market.
4. Via Sistina (12)
Price: $4.80
The Chris Waller-trained mare returned this preparation in magnificent order when storming home to win the Winx Stakes.
Unfortunately, she was unable to handle a heavy track or the solid tempo set by Pride Of Jenni in the Makybe Diva Stakes last start and really didn’t raise a whimper when finishing fifth by 6.5 lengths.
The daughter of Fastnet Rock can bounce back with the rise to 2000m which is a distance she has a great record over including a win in the Ranvet Stakes earlier this year.
She would prefer a dry track over a rain-affected one so connections will be hoping that showers stay away.
She can certainly win but she seems under the odds.
5. Warmonger (10)
Price: $12.00
The four-year-old gelding returned in magnificent order last start in the Makybe Diva Stakes.
While he was a well-beaten 5.8 lengths fourth, he finished off beautifully and recorded the quickest final 200m of the race.
The Price & Kent Jnr-trained son of War Decree finished last preparation with a dominant 10.5 length G1 Doomben Cup win so he will enjoy the rise to 2000m second-up.
Given that the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups are his target, he won’t be fully wound up here but that’s not to say he can’t run a massive race as he looks a real talent.
6. Eliyass (16)
Price: $5.00
The Waterhouse & Bott-trained import is a winner, pure and simple.
His stats sheet is a thing of beauty with nine wins and two runner-up finishes from 11 career starts with a perfect seven from seven record over this course and distance.
Since arriving in Australia, the six-year-old gelding has won all three of his races which have all been over this distance.
He demonstrated a real will to win last start when challenged be Ceolwulf in the G3 Kingston Town Stakes.
As would be expected from this stable, he puts himself into races with his go forward approach so drawing the outside barrier isn’t as bad for him as it would be for other horses.
This is his first G1 outing so he will need to lift, but winner’s win and I’m prepared to say he can rise to the occasion.
7. Atishu (5)
Price: $12.00
The Chris Waller-trained mare can be forgiven for her failure in the Makybe Diva Stakes last start as she just wasn’t suited by the wet track and the way the race was won.
Her effort the start prior when resuming in the Winx Stakes had merit so she can certainly bounce back third-up.
She’s a proven performer over this course and distance having won the 2022 G2 Matriarch Stakes and last year’s G1 Champions Stakes.
Mark Zahra takes the ride and we know he goes to another level when it’s a G1.
The daughter of Savabeel is a definite each way chance.
8. Huetor (6)
Price: $23.00
The Peter Snowden-trained gelding ended last preparation with a disappointing performance in the G2 Q22 during the Queensland Winter Carnival.
However, the 2x G1 winner looks to have put that poor result behind him and is set for a big Spring based on his first-up second in the Underwood Stakes.
He settled last and let down powerfully down the centre of the track to suggest the rise in distance is ideal second-up.
The Caulfield Cup is his Grand Final, but there’s no reason he can’t run a race and lob in the placings at big odds.
9. Sharp ‘N’ Smart (13)
Price: $27.00
It’s been a long time between drinks for the New Zealand galloper.
In fact, it’s been 82 weeks since the Team Rogerson gelding won the G1 New Zealand Derby.
Up until last start when he finished a neck second at Te Rapa, he really hadn’t shown anything to warrant consideration against this Turnbull Stakes field.
10. Young Werther (2)
Price: $9.50
The Danny O’Brien-trained gelding resumed from a short break in great order last start with a hard-fought win over 2000m at Caulfield.
He has a good record over the course and distance, having won once previously as well as finishing third in the 2022 edition of this race.
Given that he didn’t really beat much last start, and his best days are behind him, he feels under the odds and I’m happy to let him go around without me.
11. Francesco Guardi (1)
Price: $51.00
The Chris Waller-trained son of Frankel registered the fastest closing sectionals of the G3 MRC Foundation Cup last start to finish 3.7 lengths ninth.
That was a terrific run over this distance, but he is clearly looking for further.
12. Place Du Carrousel (4)
Price: $13.00
The Anthony & Sam Freedman-imported mare created a great first impression when having her first Australian start in the Ranvet Stakes during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival where she finished a credible 1.3 lengths second to Via Sistina.
She then got too far back in the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the race famously won by Pride Of Jenni.
Six months with the sun on her back in an Australian paddock agreed with her based on her trial and jump out form ahead of her first-up start in the Underwood Stakes.
Unfortunately, that’s where the positives ended as she ran her race prior to the gates opening with her getting severely worked up in the parade ring and then needing to be replated.
She was sent out favourite so where there’s smoke there’s fire, so she can certainly bounce back and she does boast an excellent second-up record.
13. Bankers Choice (15)
Price: $51.00
The seven-year-old gelding’s last win was 97 weeks ago and on current form in easier races, that isn’t changing any time soon.
14. Duke De Sessa (7)
Price: $21.00
This is another entrant that has forgotten how to win with this guy’s last victory coming 99 weeks ago.
The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding shared the lead with Young Werther two starts back over 2000m at Caulfield but was overpowered to finish second by just under a length.
Last start he led the Underwood Stakes field up and put up a reasonable fight to hang on for a 4.8 length fourth.
He looks tested here.
15. Knight’s Choice (9)
Price: $27.00
The Queenslander ran well without winning during the Winter Carnival in his home state before having a spell and recently returning in the Underwood Stakes.
Admittedly the son of Extreme Choice was first-up so will take benefit from the run, but he did weaken out of it to finish 7.4 lengths ninth.
He’ll strip fitter second-up and won his only previous race over this distance.
Who am I to doubt co-trainer Sheila Laxon, who put the polish on Caulfield and Melbourne Cup winner Ethereal, but I just feel expectations are too high for this guy.
16. Valiant King (3)
Price: $126.00
The Chris Waller-trained import didn’t handle his first time the Sydney way of going and finished a long last in the Kingston Town Stakes last start.
He finished sixth in last year’s Caulfield Cup but I cannot see him turning things around here.
The Judgement
Being gelded has been the making of Buckaroo (3).
He was excellent in the Chelmsford Stakes two starts back but I was really taken with the way he circled the field in the Underwood Stakes before putting them to the sword for an easy 3.5 length win.
He’s at peak fitness now and maps to get a lovely run for the ‘Magic Man’ Joao Moreira.
Selections:
1st – Buckaroo (3)
2nd – Eliyass (6)
3rd – Warmonger (5)
4th – Via Sistina (4)