2019 Turnbull Stakes Tips
Mr Quickie is up to winning the Stradbroke Handicap. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos

2019 Turnbull Stakes Tips

The lack of Winx meant that the Turnbull Stakes was always going to be a far better contest in 2019, but emergence and acceptance of some genuine Spring Carnival stars has also led to it being an outstanding betting race.

Mystic Journey will step out for the third time this season, as will Finche. Mr Quickie will lay his claims and Verry Elleegant will improve, while warhorse Hartnell will run his always honest race.

There’s a case to be made for all of those runners and more, and you can find my 2019 Turnbull Stakes tips below.

  • 3 Units straight out #3 Mr Quickie 
  • Boxed Trifecta of the selections below 

Turnbull Stakes - Winner
No. 3 Mr Quickie

Mr Quickie was enormous in the Makybe Diva Stakes first-up, and there’s little doubt that he’ll only be better for the run and out to 2000m. The Shamus Award gelding has missed a place once in fourteen career starts and enjoyed an impressive rise through the grades last time in, which resulted in a maiden Group 1 win in the Queensland Derby. He can settle in behind the early pace from barrier 11 and will be suited to the big and wide track at HQ.

Turnbull Stakes - 2nd
No. 4 Mystic Journey

Her class and record obviously speaks for itself and I am eager to watch Mystic Journey over 2000m for the first time in the Turnbull Stakes. The Needs Further mare was a revelation throughout her three-year-old season, winning the Australian Guineas and All-Star Mile here at Flemington most notably, and there’s been a lot to like about both of her performances this time in. She obviously would not look out of place in the winner’s stall.

Turnbull Stakes - 3rd
No. 6 Finche

Chris Waller is obviously confident that another shot at 2000m will be good for Finche, because he would have been an absolute moral in The Metropolitan at Randwick on Saturday. This bloke simply has not run a bad race since arriving in Australia; running third in the Geelong Cup and fourth in the Melbourne Cup last spring, and boy was he impressive when winning the Group 3 Kingston Town in Sydney a fortnight ago. He’s another horse that will love a return to HQ and with even luck, he could also be crowned the Turnbull Stakes winner.

Turnbull Stakes - 4th
No. 1 Hartnell

Hartnell has become a lock for running fourth, so I don’t cause to mess with the formula ahead of the Turnbull Stakes. The Authorized gelding has been about as good as they come since arriving in Australia for the 2015 autumn, and he has continued to produce performances that are full of merit, despite having not won a race for a year. He hit the line well in the Underwood last week and can do the same thing in the Turnbull.