The money is coming for Gold Trip to win the Group 1 $1 million Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at headquarters on Saturday as Duais drifts in the markets on the Flemington feature.
Class mare Duais is one of the key chances in Flemington’s 2022 Turnbull Stakes this weekend in Melbourne. Photo: Steve Hart.
A capacity field of Spring Cup hopefuls faces off in the Turnbull.
The sole emergency Hezashocka has gained a start in the the outside alley following the scratching of the Annabel Neasham-trained Numerian.
Numerian will instead take on Montefilia in Sydney’s Group 2 $1 million Hill Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on the same day instead.
Updated Turnbull Stakes betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au have the consistent Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained French import Gold Trip at $3.70 and firming to win third-up.
The Outstrip entire has run third in both his runs down under, the latest of which saw him only a length off stablemate Smokin’ Romans in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield carrying 60kg.
Gold Trip ran third back in France in the Group 1 GB Saint Cloud over the mile and a half last year and is well-weighted with just 54.5kg in Saturday’s Melbourne feature race.
Despite the size of the field just one other runner is under double-figures to take out the Turnbull with Edward Cummings’ three-time Group 1 winning mare Duais easing in the markets out from $3.8 to $5.
Josh Parr continues associations with the standout daughter of Shamus Award who is after her first turf triumph since taking out the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) – Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) double back in March.
She won the Australian Cup at this track and distance by two lengths over Think It Over and Spanish Mission and presents fit third-up this weekend.
Her latest run was behind Anamoe in Randwick’s Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) a fortnight back, a race that has strong form lines worth following south on Saturday.
There has been a tickle for the Danny O’Brien-trained Young Werther ($13 into $11) with the Melbourne Cup-bound galloper drawn the rails and Damain Lane to ride second-up in the Turnbull.
It’s been a long time between drinks for Young Werther who has just the one run on his record having won his debut at Geelong back in September of 2020.
The now five-year-old son of Tavistock remains lightly-raced with Saturday just his 13th career start, and he has been competitive in plenty over the past two years.
He boasts a host of top Group 1 performances including placings in the 2020 Victoria Derby (3rd), 2021 ATC Derby (2nd) and second in last year’s Turnbull Stakes results behind subsequent Caulfield Cup champ Incentivise.
His only run this prep produced a fourth when under two lengths off Makram in a Flemington handicap over 1700m carrying 61kg, and he will relish the 2000m with 54.5kg on his back second-up this weekend.
O’Brien is also represented by Inspirational Girl ($13) drawn out in gate 13 with Melbourne Cup winning hoop Jye McNeil to ride the seven-year-old Reliable Man mare.
She has her first go at the 2000m and was last seen running second to Mr Brightside in Moonee Valley’s Group 2 John F. Feehan Stakes (1600m) on September 3.
The Turnbull Stakes 2022 is set to run as Race 7 at 4:25pm (AEST) on Saturday’s nine-race Flemington card.
