2024 Turnbull Stakes Day Tips & Preview
Warmonger is the value in Saturday's Turnbull Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart.

2024 Turnbull Stakes Day Tips & Preview

A bumper 10-race card has been assembled at Flemington this Saturday, headlined by the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes over 2000m.  

Nine of the 10 races are of black-type, including the Group 3 Bart Cummings that ensures the winner ballot-free exemption into the Melbourne Cup.  

Rain on Friday and Saturday could see the track rated anywhere in the Soft range, while the rail remains out 9m across the circuit.  

For thoughts and analysis across the entire Turnbull Stakes Day meeting, continue reading below! 

Race 1 - 12:25PM TAB We're On (1200 METRES)

Race Starts in: Race Finished

Win

No. 10 Wolfy

J: Mark Zahra (57.5kg) T: Nick Ryan

Wolfy has big upside and scope for improvement heading into his second start.  

The Nick Ryan-trained son of Tivaci got back in the run last start over 1100m here at Headquarters, working home down the outside to finish 1.85 lengths off Saturday’s impressive rival, Moby Dick.  

He adopted similar tactics but chose a wide lane down the straight, held up briefly before closing the gap nicely over the final 50m or so.  

Having won at Caulfield second-up in February over the same trip, he looks a nice bet from a much more suitable gate this time.  

Race 2 - 12:55PM Darley Maribyrnong Trial Stakes (1000 METRES) 

Race Starts in: Race Finished

Win

No. 3 Shining Smile  

J: Daniel Stackhouse (58kg) T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes

Always a tricky betting race with the entire field on debut.  

Shining Smile has won two jumpouts leading in, the latest here at Headquarters where he let rip with some impressive late speed down the outside to get home in his final few strides.  

The Lindsay Park-trained son of Spirit Of Boom has drawn barrier 9 for his first start and just needs to park off the speed to be a serious chance.  

Race 3 - 1:30PM ABC Bullion Super Impose Stakes (1800 METRES) 

Race Starts in: Race Finished

Win

No. 3 Giddy Up Warrior  

J: Luke Currie (57kg) T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes

Happy to stick with Giddy Up Warrior here for Lindsay Park.  

This lightly-raced three-year-old out of Irish Group 1 winner Saxon Warrior finished just outside the money last start at Flemington, looming the winner at the top of the straight before being swallowed up around the 150m mark. 

Keep in mind, he was 1500m stretched out to 1800m that day after winning his maiden the start prior in impressive fashion coming off the speed.  

He’s been up for a while, but with a fitness and experience edge over some of his rivals, he should be in the mix with a change in rider and the middle gate working in his favour.  

Race 4 - 2:05PM TAB Edward Manifold Stakes (1600 METRES) 

Race Starts in: Race Finished

Win Market Mover

No. 4 Declichy Boulevard  

J: Joao Moreira (56kg) T: Chris Waller

Declichy Boulevard should have her fair share of support third-up over the mile for the first time in the Edward Manifold Stakes.

The Snitzel filly stretched out to go within a neck of beating Lilac in the Jim Moloney two weeks ago, bolting in down the outside with a big run carrying the same weight under Joao Moreira.  

Everything about that effort suggested she’s wanting further, while she could be suited by a potential wet track having won her maiden on a Heavy 8 at Warwick Farm earlier in June.  

With Moreira sticking from an ideal gate, look for the pair to be finishing strongly over the top yet again. 

Race 5 - 2:40PM Cirka Danehill Stakes (1100 METRES) 

Race Starts in: Race Finished

Win

No. 4 First Settler  

J: Michael Dee (57kg) T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr

Keen to give First Settler another chance here in the Danehill Stakes after having his unbeaten run snapped in the Posideon Stakes a couple of weeks ago.  

By Written Tycoon, the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr trained colt got away fairly over the same distance before storming into the frame to finish just over a length off the talented Growing Empire.  

That form speaks for itself after Growing Empire ran second in the Manikato Stakes last week, while it was evident he might have been a touch too keen hitting full stride around the 600m mark.  

Second-up now, if Michael Dee can save his best with a more patient ride, the pair should be hard to beat.  

Race 6 - 3:15PM Winning Edge Presentations Paris Lane Stakes (1400 METRES) 

Race Starts in: Race Finished

Win Market Mover

No. 5 Arran Bay  

J: Daniel Stackhouse (55.5kg) T: Phillip Stokes

Arran Bay presents a compelling case second-up.  

The Phillip Stokes-trained son of All Too Hard held on nicely for fourth in the Listed Black Caviar over the track and distance a fortnight earlier, tackling a Heavy 8 and settling up on the speed from the jump.  

He’s won four from five starts second-up from a spell and has typically done his best racing here at Headquarters with three wins on the board.  

In a similar contest but drawn more favourably, a similar effort to his first-up run would see him right int his.  

Race 7 - 3:50PM The Lexus Bart Cummings (2520 METRES) 

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Each Way

No. 8 Horrifying

J: Luke Currie (54.5kg) T: Lindsey Smith

Horrifying is a classy stayer open to big improvement on his favourite track.  

The seven-year-old son of Shocking was always wide in the Archer Stakes two weeks ago, facing the breeze rounding the turn before giving a nice sight when beaten 2.3 lengths by Point King.  

The wide run told in the end, but keep in mind he was six weeks between runs, so there is scope for natural improvement on less of a turnaround.  

Drawn closer to the inside on this occasion, he’ll be thereabouts again.  

Race 8 - 4:25PM TAB Turnbull Stakes (2000 METRES) 

Race Starts in: Race Finished

Each Way

No. 5 Warmonger

J: Michael Dee (57kg) T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr

The Turnbull looks the perfect race for Warmonger second-up.  

As expected, the four-year-old out of the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr yard went around at long odds in the Makybe Diva Stakes, but I thought he made up some good late ground to finish fourth ahead of some tired horses in the run home.  

He was never a match for Mr Brightside or Pride Of Jenni, but his final 200m split was among the quickest of the meeting.  

Michael Dee will need some luck on his side early from the wide gate, but with wins to his name second-up and a firmer track playing to his advantage, a win here at double figures isn’t out of the question.  

Race 9 - 5:05PM Gilgai Stakes (1200 METRES) 

Race Starts in: Race Finished

Win

No. 2 Sghirripa 

J: Harry Coffey (58.5kg) T: Shane & Cassie Oxlade

Beware the South Australian in this year’s Gilgai Stakes.  

The five-year-old Oxlade-trained Sghirripa hasn’t won in a while, but there was a fair bit to like about his first-up effort at Morphettville in the Listed Wylie Handicap a few weeks ago.  

The son of Lonhro was away only fairly and struggled to find a run from midfield into the straight, but once clear, he did show some late toe to go within 1.5 lengths of Press Down. 

Second-up, he’s almost unbeaten and also owns a nice win here at Headquarters back in January when he took out a Group 3 in a canter.  

Race 10 - 5:40PM Furphy Rose of Kingston Stakes (1400 METRES) 

Race Starts in: Race Finished

Each Way Market Mover

No. 6 Revolutionary Miss

J: Mark Zahra (57kg) T: Ciaron Maher

Not a bad price on offer here at time of writing for Revolutionary Miss in Rose Of Kingston Stakes betting.

She arguably should have won first-up at Caulfield a fortnight ago, held up badly out of the turn before finding a lane to run on late for third behind Kundalini. 

The daughter of Russian Revolution clearly hasn’t lost much of a step since transitioning from the Snowden to Ciaron Maher camp, and with the barrier in her favour this time, we should see a similar effort with conditions to suit.  

Tips, recommendations and commentary are for entertainment only. All prices are Fixed win odds. We provide no warranty about accuracy or completeness. You should make your own assessment before placing a bet. Odds are correct as of 12/02/2025 11:53:57pm AEST and subject to change.