2026 Turnbull Stakes Form, Barrier Draw & Final Field

Last year’s Caulfield and Melbourne Cup winner hasn’t exactly set the winter carnival alight, but he’s gradually finding his way back into form ahead of the spring Cups. This looks like a tough assignment, so we’re happy to watch him here before keeping him in mind over the coming weeks.

He heads the market and gets another opportunity to return to the winner’s list after finishing behind Sheza Alibi over 1600m. His record over 2000m is impressive, with three victories from four attempts, and Craig Williams can negate some of the concerns around the wide barrier.

Two runs into his campaign should have him fitter and sharper, but we’re struggling to see him winning this. He’s capable of producing a surprise performance from time to time, although a victory here would come as a major upset. There are more appealing options among the Turnbull Stakes predictions.

We have him just below the very best horses in the country, but his consistency is hard to ignore, and he came out on top when it came to the Turnbull Stakes barrier draw. Barrier 4 gives him every chance of getting a comfortable passage, while William Pike should be able to settle him into the race nicely. If he gets that run, expect him to finish strongly.

Aeliana showed signs of returning to her best when she chased home Autumn Glow last start. She couldn’t quite reel her in, but the performance suggested she’s back on track, and barrier 2 is another major positive. She should enjoy a relatively economical run and has the quality to sweep past them late.

This race appears to be another stepping-stone towards the longer staying events later in the Melbourne Spring Carnival. Asterix is unlikely to be suited by the conditions here and looks set to find a few of these too sharp. That explains the big price attached to his chances.

Zahrann deserves more respect than the market may initially suggest. His latest Caulfield victory reads well enough as a form reference, and with just 10 starts behind him, there’s still plenty of upside. Barrier 1 is a major advantage, and he can make his presence felt at the top level.

The New Zealand import has been progressing nicely as the season has unfolded and looks destined for bigger staying targets. She is being aimed towards the Melbourne Cup, meaning 2000m may not be enough ground to show her best. She’s one to keep onside as the spring campaign develops.

He can be frustrating to follow, but there’s enough ability there for him to sneak into the placings on his day. That said, he looks another runner who will be much more effective once he steps up to around 2400m. His preparation appears geared towards those longer races.

We’re not expecting Soul of Spain to make a major impact over 2000m in this company. His third-place finish last start came against opposition that was hardly intimidating, and the level of competition rises considerably here. He’ll need to improve sharply.

Buckaroo has put together two solid performances this campaign without quite looking like a winner. He remains a horse capable of producing something special, particularly given his association with Waller, and we wouldn’t be shocked to see him get the job done. At $14, the price is a little more generous than anticipated.

She’s a Hustler has attracted plenty of early market interest, and she was always likely to improve significantly with a first-up run under her belt. She opened around $20 and has since firmed, which is understandable given her best form is good enough to see her competitive here. She makes the shortlist for our Turnbull Stakes predictions.

Saint George has put together a strong preparation, recording two wins and a placing from his three starts. The wide gate creates a challenge, as he’ll likely need to expend some energy early to find a position, but carrying 55kg is a significant positive. If he’s taken another step forward since his last-start placing, he can be right in the finish.

It’s difficult to build a case for Deakin after he could only manage eighth last time out. He’ll need to turn his form around considerably to feature here, and a drop in grade later in the carnival may prove more suitable.

His recent results don’t tell the full story, and he’s capable of performing better than those figures suggest. Even so, this looks beyond him from a winning perspective. The $126 quote reflects just how difficult his task is in this field.