The United States has been withdrawn from the 2016 Turnbull Stakes after mucus was detected in his scope this morning.
The United States has been ruled out of the 2016 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington this afternoon. Photo by: Steve Hart
The Group 1 Turnbull Stakes was set to be a crucial 2016 Spring Racing Carnival run for The United States as his performance would determine whether he heads to the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) or Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) and owner Lloyd Williams will now be forced to completely reassess his plans for the Group 1 winner.
The United States was rated the biggest danger to Hartnell in 2016 Turnbull Stakes betting markets and the Godolphin galloper is now into $1.80 to make it three wins on the trot.
Hartnell stamped himself as one of the best horses in the country with dominant victories in both the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on September 3 and the Group 2 Hill Stakes (2000m) at the same venue on September 17, but there are some concerns that he does not race as well the Melbourne way of going.
This will be his first race start in Melbourne since the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) last year and he finished a flat sixth in the Turnbull Stakes last year.
Jameka is now on the second line of Turnbull Stakes betting and she is into $4.80 to record a second victory at Group 1 level.
The talented filly recorded her first race win for over a year when she proved far too strong for her rivals in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on September 17 and this will be her final lead-up run for the Caulfield Cup.
The only other horse that is available at single-figure Turnbull Stakes odds is Raw Impulse, who was scratched from the Group 3 Craven Plate (2000m) at Royal Randwick yesterday to remain in Melbourne for this race.
Raw Impulse was beaten as an odds-on favourite when he returned to the races at Moonee Valley on September 3, but he was far too strong for his rivals in the Tokyo City Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on September 17.
There has been a sprinkling of support in Turnbull Stakes betting for Preferment ($21 into $19), Sofia Rosa ($51 into $41) and Second Bullet ($126 into $101), while Tarzino ($21 out to $26), Happy Trails ($34 out to $51), Set Square ($26 out to $18) and De Little Engine ($91 out $126) have all been on the drift.
