The John O’Shea trained Hartnell has a great chance to rack up a hat trick of wins after drawing barrier four in the Group 1 $500,000 Yellowglen Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Sunday.
Hartnell, above, will start a short priced favourite in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington. Photo by Steve Hart.
The Godolphin owned Hartnell heads to Melbourne after putting together back to back wins in the Group 2 $250,000 Tattersalls Club Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on September 3 and in the Group 2 $200,000 Ascend Sales Trophies Hill Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on September 17.
A combined winning margin of thirteen and a half lengths from his last two starts has seen Hartnell installed as the $2.20 favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Turnbull Stakes.
The stable’s number one rider James McDonald has been aboard Hartnell at his last eight starts and will travel to Melbourne on Sunday to keep his winning momentum going.
O’Shea will also saddle up Tally who has drawn barrier nine with Brenton Avdulla booked to ride.
The Chris Waller trained Preferment will also head to Melbourne to try to win back to back Turnbull Stakes after beating stablemate Royal Descent last year and the Zabeel five year old showed his liking for the Flemington 2000m with a win in the Group 1 $1m Australian Cup earlier in the year during the Melbourne Autumn Carnival.
Preferment ($19) has been struggling to find his best form of late and was beaten just over eight lengths when fifth to Hartnell in the Hill Stakes, but Hugh Bowman is certain to give him every chance to turn his form around from barrier five in the thirteen horse field.
The Ciaron Maher trained Jameka was back in the winner’s stall last start with a very impressive victory in the Group 3 $150,000 Bendigo Bank East Malvern MRC Foundation Cup (Naturalism Stakes) (2000m) at Caulfield on September 17 and will be one of the main chances again.
The 2015 Crown Oaks winner has drawn barrier seven and has last start winning jockey Nick Hall in the saddle again while stablemate and $26 outsider Set Square will jump from gate twelve with Luke Nolen in the saddle.
Jameka is on the second line of betting at $5.50 just ahead of $6 chance The United States will strip fitter for a first up sixth to Awesome Rock in the Group 2 $250,000 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 3.
Damien Oliver takes over from Katelyn Mallyon on the United States who has drawn in close at barrier two.
Premiership winning trainer Darren Weir will saddle up English import Raw Impulse who was back in the winner’s circle last start with a four and three quarter lengths win in the Listed $100,000 Tokyo City Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on September 17.
Raw Impulse ($10) has drawn awkwardly at barrier eleven with Craig Williams taking over from Dean Yendall.
German import Our Ivanhowe has recovered from a minor leg injury that forced him out of the Group 1 $500,000 Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield last Saturday and has drawn barrier one with Kerrin McEvoy to ride.
McEvoy teamed up with co-trainers Lee and Anthony Freedman when Our Ivanhowe swooped down the centre of the track to claim the Group 1 $650,000 Hardy Brothers Doomben Cup (2000m) at Doomben during the Brisbane Winter Carnival.
Our Ivanhowe is currently listed as a $11 chance for the Turnbull Stakes.
Market order for the Turnbull Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.20 Hartnell, $5.50 Jameka, $6 The United States, $10 Raw Impulse, $11 Our Ivanhowe, $19 Preferment, $21 Tally, $26 Set Square, Tarzino, $34 Happy Trails, Sofia Rosa, $91 Second Bullet, $101 De Little Engine.
