This season the Turnbull Stakes ran on Saturday, October 3, 2026 as a lead-up to the Cox Plate and Spring Cup races and was won in an impressive upset by the consistent Andrea Leek-trained WA expat Cosmic Crusader ($8).
The Turnbull Stakes 2026 is set to fire up early October at Flemington, with Australia’s top middle‑distance contenders lining up for this crucial 2000m Group 1 run under set weights plus penalties. Ladbrokes punters are already tracking the latest Turnbull Stakes odds and shaping their Turnbull Stakes betting plays as major stables roll out their spring heavyweights. With fitness, distance rise and Flemington’s long straight all driving fast market shifts, this is a race where early value matters — and Ladbrokes gives you the insights to stay in front of the move.
2026 Turnbull Stakes Results
The official Turnbull Stakes 2026 results and Flemington finishing order will be available below once the race is run and won on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
- #4 Cosmic Crusader
- #3 Light Infantry Man
- #5 Aeliana
The2026 Turnbull Stakes results were dominated by Western Australian starCosmic Crusader ($8), who produced a career-best performance to capture the Group 1 feature over 2000m at Flemington. The Andrea Leek-trained six-year-old relished the rain-affected conditions, powering home under William Pike to defeat Light Infantry Man by 1¾ lengths, with Aeliana a further length away in third. The son of Maurice secured his second career Group 1 victory and continued an outstanding spring campaign that included earlier wins in the Bletchingly Stakes and P.B. Lawrence Stakes. The emphatic success cemented Cosmic Crusader as a major player in the Melbourne Spring Carnival, with bookmakers at Ladbrokes shortening him significantly in Cox Plate betting from $26 into $8 following the win. Already a Group 1 winner and now proven at weight-for-age over 2000m at Flemington, Cosmic Crusader showcased the class, fitness and wet-track prowess needed to emerge as one of the season’s leading middle-distance contenders.
2026 Turnbull Stakes Race Replay
2026 Turnbull Stakes Odds & Finishing Order
The season’s top Turnbull Stakes 2026 betting odds and links to our markets on the Group 1 spring feature at Flemington will be available below once open so stay tuned to back your early Turnbull Stakes tips at the right price followed by the official finishing order after the event.
Turnbull Stakes 2026 Results
| 4. Cosmic Crusader (4) 58kgx1132 | |||
| 3. Light Infantry Man (3) 58kg15×48 | |||
| 5. Aeliana (2) 57kg11×02 | |||
| 2. Sir Delius (9) 59kg331×4 | |||
| 1. Half Yours (13) 59kg444×6 | |||
| 8. Ohope Wins (5) 56kg41×09 | |||
| 12. She’s A Hustler (7) 55kg355×5 | |||
| 9. Middle Earth (6) 56kg91×87 | |||
| 15. Kings Valley (10) 55kg1×087 | |||
| 13. Saint George (12) 55kgx4112 | |||
| 7. Zahrann (1) 56.5kg53×41 | |||
| 11. Buckaroo (8) 55kg25×55 | |||
| 6. Asterix (11) 56.5kg61×53 | |||
| 10. Soul Of Spain (15)SCRATCHED: | |||
| 14. Deakin (12)SCRATCHED: | |||
Turnbull Stakes Tips
Turnbull Stakes tips favour horses coming out of a race like the Group 1 Underwood Stakes, which has produced a host of recent winners.
The latest horses to complete the Underwood Stakes – Turnbull Stakes double are Elvstoem (2004) and Sir Delius (2025).
Cosmic Crusader (2nd in 2026) was the last Turnbull Stakes winner to come via the Underwood.
Betting tips also rate six-year-olds highly because of their good record in the race and those drawn an inside alley, while mares aren’t shied away from with six winning female gallopers since 2007 including Lucia Valentina (2014), the brilliant Winx (2017, 2018), the fellow Chris Waller-trained Verry Elleegant (2020), and another Waller mare in Via Sistina (2024).
Ladbrokes Tip: The Underwood Stakes – Turnbull Stakes is a popular spring betting double!
2026 Turnbull Stakes Predictions & Best Bets
Our Ladbrokes’ insider Turnbull Stakes 2026 betting tips and exotic Flemington racing selections will be detailed for punters below so bookmark this page for the hopeful spring horses to back for the win this season.
| 2. Sir Delius (9) 59kg331×4 |
| 5. Aeliana (2) 57kg11×02 |
| 13. Saint George (12) 55kgx4112 |
Latest Turnbull Stakes News
The Turnbull Stakes is a 2000m Group 1 classic held at Flemington Racecourse at the start of October during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival each year.
The headline race on the card and only event holding elite level status, the set weights plus penalties clash is open to horses aged four and above and is worth $750,000 in prize money.
On the same day as the Turnbull Stakes, Western Australia hosts the Listed Kalgoorlie Cup (2300m).
Many Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup bound horses go into those majors via the Turnbull Stakes, which has been a Group 1 race since 2010.
Named in honour of Richard Turnbull in 1948 who was the current Victoria Racing Club chairman, the event first ran in 1865 and has been won by many turf greats.
Notable Turnbull Stakes winners over the years include Wakeful (1903), dual champ Ajax (1938 & 1940) who won on non-consecutive years, Bernborough (1946), Rising Fast (1954), Dulcify (1979), Vo Rogue (1987 & 1988), Let’s Elope (1991), Sunline (2001), Makybe Diva (2005), Zipping (2010), Green Moon (2012), and Winx (2017) who saluted by six and a half lengths in her Flemington debut. Winx also returned enjoying back-to-back Turnbull Stakes wins in 2018.
Trainer Chris Waller enjoyed his fourth consecutive Turnbull Stakes victory in 2020 with Verry Elleegant saluting ahead of her next-up victory in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m). Verry Elleegant would also go on to make history winning the 2022 Melbourne Cup.
In 2021 Incentivise became the latest galloper to complete the Turnbull Stakes – Caulfield Cup double before his second to Verry Elleegant in that year’s Melbourne Cup results.
The 2023 Turnbull Stakes results saw the previous year’s Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip return to winning form with a dominant upset.
In 2024 trainer Chris Waller prepared the Turnbull Stakes quinella with Via Sistina saluting to hand the stable a sixth win in 10 years.
Via Sistina went on to win the Ladbrokes Cox Plate by eight lengths at her next start!
Turnbull Stakes Race Facts
- Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
- Track: Flemington Racecourse
- Distance: 2000m
- Conditions: Set Weights + Penalties
- Status: Group 1
- Prize Money: $750,000
- First Run: 1865
Turnbull Stakes Betting
Turnbull Stakes betting odds traditionally favour horses with previous Group 1 form and six-year-olds as this older age group has dominated the recent results with eight winners from 2011 – 2026 including most famously Winx (2017) and two years later the fellow Chris Waller-trained Kings Will Dream (2019). Winx also won again the following year (2018) as a seven-year-old. Cosmic Crusader (2026) was the last six-year-old Turnbull Stakes winner.
Horses drawn in double digit barriers are found further down the Turnbull Stakes markets with the only horses to jump from wider than gate eight since Makybe Diva (16 of 16 in 2005) being Preferment (9 of 15 in 2015), Verry Elleegant (9 of 15 in 2020), Gold Trip (16 of 16 in 2023), Via Sistina (12 of 16 in 2024), and Sir Delius (14 of 14 in 2025).
Favourites in the Turnbull Stakes odds only have a mediocre recent record in the race in the past decade with six winning from 2006 – 2026 including Hartnell (2016), super star mare Winx (2017-18) back-to-back and most recently Verry Elleegant ($5 in 2020).
Verry Elleegant returned as the the $2.10 favourite in the 2021 Turnbull Stakes but ran fourth to Incentivise ($2.70).
There was a notable upset in Turnbull Stakes betting in 2022 with Smokin’ Romans saluting at $21 and again in 2023 with Gold Trip winning at Turnbull Stakes odds of $19.
Turnbull Stakes Field
The Turnbull Stakes race field has a capacity of 16 starters and most recently ran at its capacity in 2023 when the previous year’s Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip won from the outside barrier and again in 2024 with Via Sistina saluting for the Chris Waller stable.
The race had not featured under 12 starters since 1999 when Sky Heights beat home just five rivals in a diminutive six starter field until 2017 when Winx scared off her rivals. The super mare beat home only six other runners in 2017 and then in 2018 Winx defeated nine others in a slightly larger Turnbull Stakes field. The 2021 Turnbull Stakes field ran with just nine starters.
The Turnbull Stakes final acceptances close the week of the race and usually feature a host of previous Group 1 winners looking for more elite level glory with proven performers dominating the markets.
Good lead-up races for horses heading into the Turnbull Stakes field including the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield – a double last completed by Elvstroem (2004) – and Sydney’s Group 2 Hill Stakes (1800m) held at Randwick.
The Hill Stakes – Turnbull Stakes double was completed on back-to-back years by Preferment (2015) and Hartnell (2016) in recent years.
From 2020 the Hill Stakes has run on the same day in Sydney as the Turnbull Stakes after a change to the spring line-up.
In 2024 Chris Waller’s Underwood Stakes winner Buckaroo ran a brave second to his stablemate Via Sistina in the Turnbull Stakes results next start.
2026 Turnbull Stakes Field
The official Turnbull Stakes 2026 Final Field & Barriers are announced by Racing Victoria on the Wednesday of race week and will be listed below as soon as announced.
The 2026 Turnbull Stakes field features a cracking line-up of 15 Spring Cups’ hopefuls including hot favourite Sir Delius chasing back-to-back Turnbull trophies and Chris Waller’s multiple Group 1 winning mare Aeliana.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Half Yours
J: Jamie Melham
T: Tony & Calvin Mcevoy |
9444×6 | G | 13 | 59kg | |
|
2. Sir Delius
J: Craig Williams
T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
x331x4 | H | 9 | 59kg | |
|
3. Light Infantry Man
J: Harry Coffey
T: Ciaron Maher |
415×48 | G | 3 | 58kg | |
|
4. Cosmic Crusader
J: William Pike
T: Andrea Leek |
2×1132 | G | 4 | 58kg | |
|
5. Aeliana
J: Damian Lane
T: Chris Waller |
211×02 | M | 2 | 57kg | |
|
6. Asterix
J: Ben Melham
T: Chris Waller |
661×53 | G | 11 | 56.5kg | |
|
7. Zahrann
J: Ethan Brown
T: Ciaron Maher |
x53x41 | H | 1 | 56.5kg | |
|
8. Ohope Wins
J: Blake Shinn
T: Chris Waller |
141×09 | M | 5 | 56kg | |
|
9. Middle Earth
J: Mark Zahra
T: Ciaron Maher |
891×87 | G | 6 | 56kg | |
| 10. Soul Of Spain (15) Scratched: | |||||
|
11. Buckaroo
J: Jye Mcneil
T: Chris Waller |
x25x55 | G | 8 | 55kg | |
|
12. She’s A Hustler
J: Jordan Childs
T: Grahame Begg |
4355×5 | M | 7 | 55kg | |
|
13. Saint George
J: Michael Dee
T: Ciaron Maher |
4×4112 | G | 12 | 55kg | |
| 14. Deakin (12) Scratched: | |||||
|
15. Kings Valley
J: Lachlan Neindorf
T: Ciaron Maher |
91×087 | G | 10 | 55kg | |
2026 Turnbull Stakes Nominations
The early Turnbull Stakes 2026 Nominations on the Spring Cups’ lead-up are taken the Monday ahead of race day and will be published below once confirmed.
The Turnbull Stakes 2026 nominations are now out featuring 21 middle-distance gallopers led in all-in betting by the defending championSir Delius on his way to the Cox Plate.
Turnbull Stakes Form Guide
The Turnbull Stakes form guide shows punters the saddlecloth number, jockey, trainer, weight and barrier for each horse in the field along with other important information like the galloper’s record at the track and distance and their lead-up form. All of this is crucial when placing bets, including looking for graduates out of the Underwood Stakes.
In 2023 the Turnbull Stakes form was franked by the winner Gold Trip who went on finish third in that year’s Caulfield Cup trifecta.
The Turnbull form was further franked by the runner-up West Wind Blows who was second next start in the Caulfield Cup in 2023, while Soulcombe was third in the Turnbull before his second in the Melbourne Cup quinella.
Via Sistina went on to frank the 2024 Turnbull Stakes form with her runaway eight-length Cox Plate win at The Valley next start. She went on to win a host more Group 1 races including that year’s Champions Stakes during the Melbourne Cup Carnival and the 2025 Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
The 2025 Underwood–Turnbull double winner Sir Delius proved that form was no fluke, returning in the autumn to deliver a string of elite runs capped by his dominant two‑length Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes victory in 2026. Superstar mare Via Sistina also elevated her profile, improving on her Turnbull third to sweep the Group 1 Cox Plate / Champions Stakes double that spring before retiring at the top of her game.
Turnbull Stakes Form Facts
- The only horses to win the Turnbull Stakes from a double-digit barrier draw since Makybe Diva (16 of 16 in 2005) are Preferment (9 of 15 in 2015), Verry Elleegant (9 of 15 in 2020), Gold Trip (16 of 16 in 2023), Via Sistina (12 of 16 in 2024) and Sir Delius (14 of 14 in 2025).
- Since the Turnbull Stakes win by Makybe Diva six other Turnbull Stakes winners have been mares with Devil Moon (2007), Lucia Valentina (2014), dual champion Winx (2017, 2018), Verry Elleegant (2020), and Via Sistina (2024).
- From 2011 – 2026 six favourites in Turnbull Stakes betting saluted for the punters including Winx (2017, 2018) who was the odds-on favourite for both of her wins at Flemington and the also Waller-trained Verry Elleegant ($5 in 2020).
2026 Turnbull Stakes Form
A link to our comprehensive Turnbull Stakes 2026 Form Guide will be provided for punters below the week of the race.
Past Turnbull Stakes Results
The Turnbull Stakes results and finishing order are known when the event jumps at Caulfield at the early October meeting and shows the winner, the margin by which they won by and the time they did it in as well as any horses scratched from the original field.
In recent years Turnbull Stakes results have been dominated by six-year-olds and those coming off a Sydney lead-up run.
All the Turnbull Stakes winners from 2014-18 had their final run in Sydney including Preferment (2015) and Hartnell (2016) who won the Hill Stakes at Randwick before success in the Flemington Group 1.
Winx (2017) meanwhile came off a George Main Stakes win before her runaway effort for her 21st straight victory in the Turnbull Stakes. Winx also took out the Turnbull Stakes results in 2018 to complete the George Main – Turnbull interstate double for the second straight year.
In 2019 Kings Will Dream changed that proven lead-up form into the Turnbull Stakes winning the race on the back of an unplaced run in Flemington’s Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m). In 2021 Incentivise became the latest horse to complete the Makybe Diva Stakes – Turnbull Stakes double.
Notable Turnbull Stakes winners include Vo Rouge (1987-88), Super Impose (1989), Let’s Elope (1991), Northerly (2002), Makybe Diva (2005), Zipping (2010), Green Moon (2012), Hartnell (2016), the world’s best mare Winx (2017, 2018), next-up Caulfield Cup winner Verry Elleegant (2020), the Peter Moody-trained Incentivise (2021), and the reigning Melbourne Cup champion from the previous spring Gold Trip (2023).
Via Sistina (2024) was the last Turnbull Stakes winning mare and the first since the fellow Waller-trained Verry Elleegant (2020).
Elvstroem holds the current Turnbull Stakes race record winning in 2004 in a time of 2 minutes 00:40 seconds.
Recent Turnbull Stakes Winners
Recent Turnbull Stakes winners and placegetters dating back to the year 2000 are detailed in the below table.
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Cosmic Crusader | Light Infantry Man | Aeliana | 2:04.44 |
| 2025 | Sir Delius | Antino | Via Sistina | 2:02.82 |
| 2024 | Via Sistina | Buckaroo | Eliyass | 2:02.62 |
| 2023 | Gold Trip | West Wind Blows | Soulcombe | 2:01.6 |
| 2022 | Smokin’ Romans | Maximal | Young Werther | 2:02.2 |
| 2021 | Incentivise | Young Werther | Chapada | 2:01.4 |
| 2020 | Verry Elleegant | Toffee Tongue | Finche | 2:01.8 |
| 2019 | Kings Will Dream | Finche | Hartnell | 2:03.5 |
| 2018 | Winx | Youngstar | Kings Will Dream | 2:01:6 |
| 2017 | Winx | Ventura Storm | Humidor | 2:02.0 |
| 2016 | Hartnell | Jameka | Tally | 2:01.0 |
| 2015 | Preferment | Royal Descent | Set Square | 2:01.3 |
| 2014 | Lucia Valentina | Lidari | Brambles | 2:01.8 |
| 2013 | Happy Trails | Puissance De Lune | Fawkner | 2:02.9 |
| 2012 | Green Moon | Seville | December Draw | 2:02.1 |
| 2011 | December Draw | Glass Harmonium | Playing God | 2:03.9 |
| 2010 | Zipping | Shocking | Shoot Out | 2:03.2 |
| 2009 | Efficient | Predatory Pricer | Scenic Shot | 2:01.6 |
| 2008 | Littorio | Master O’Reilly | Zipping | 2:02.4 |
| 2007 | Devil Moon | Scenic Shot | Haradasun | 2:03.4 |
| 2006 | Sphenophyta | Our Smoking Joe | Aqua D Amore | 2:01.9 |
| 2005 | Makybe Diva | Lad Of The Manor | Confectioner | 2:01.5 |
| 2004 | Elvstroem | Mummify | Confectioner | 2:00.4 |
| 2003 | Studebaker | Pentastic | Strasbourg | 2:04.0 |
| 2002 | Northerly | Dash For Cash | Fields Of Omagh | 2:02.3 |
| 2001 | Sunline | Universal Prince | Primrose Sands | 2:03.9 |
| 2000 | Fairway | Sunline | Diatribe | 2:02.2 |
FAQs
How do I bet on the 2026 Turnbull Stakes?
Bet online or via the latest iOS/Android apps with Ladbrokes.
The first step is to create an account at Ladbrokes. The process is quick and easy!
Once you've created your account you can make a deposit via credit card, or any other of our secure payment methods. Next up, head to the racing page and find the race and runner that's right for you.
Which horse will win the 2026 Turnbull Stakes?
The best way to pick which horse will win the Turnbull Stakes is to take into account the form, assess the barriers, and consider the weight the horse will carry (among other factors). Check out Ladbrokes in the lead up to the race for full form information.
When is the Turnbull Stakes 2026?
The 2026 Turnbull Stakes takes place in the middle of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival on Saturday October 3 at Flemington on the same day Sydney hosts Epsom Handicap Day at Randwick. It is scheduled as Flemington Race 8 at 4:25pm (AEST) on the 10-race Turnbull Stakes Day card.
What is the prize money for the Turnbull Stakes 2026?
The 2026 Turnbull Stakes Stakes prize money is set at $750,000 which is paid from 1st to 8th place including $450,000 going to the Turnbull Stakes winner.
Where is the Turnbull Stakes 2026?
The 2026 Turnbull Stakes is set to run a Melbourne's famous Flemington Racecourse, home to many iconic races including the Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday of November annually, which is located at 448 Epsom Road, Flemington, VIC.
What distance is the Turnbull Stakes run over?
The Turnbull Stakes is run over 2000 metres, a pivotal middle‑distance trip that sets up key spring campaigns for Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup hopefuls.
How many horses run in the Turnbull Stakes?
The Turnbull Stakes generally attracts a capacity field of 14–16 runners, reflecting its status as one of the key middle‑distance Group 1 tests of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.
Who won the 2026 Turnbull Stakes?
The 2026 Turnbull Stakes was won by six-year-old Maurice gelding Cosmic Crusader fifth-up off a second in the Underwood Stakes. He paid $8 for the win for trainer Andrea Leek with jockey William Pike aboard the Turnbull Stakes 2026 winner on 58kg from barrier 4 to beat Light Infantry Man home by 1.75 lengths in a time of 2:04.44 on a Heavy (8) track.
Who won the 2025 Turnbull Stakes?
The 2025 Turnbull Stakes was won by five-year-old Frankel entire Sir Delius at $7 for trainers Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott with jockey Craig Williams aboard on 58kg from barrier 14 of 14 to win by 1.75 lengths on a Good (3) track in a time of 2:02.82.