All the early money on the Turnbull Stakes 2016 betting markets for Sunday’s Flemington feature is firmly on the John O’Shea-trained favourite Hartnell to post his third win on the trot.
Hartnell is the firming short-priced favourite to take out the 2016 Turnbull Stakes on Sunday at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne. Photo: Steve Hart.
Two back the Authorized six-year-old saluted in the wet in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) by nearly eight lengths and last start the Godolphin galloper went back-to-back at Royal Randwick with a runaway six length victory in the Group 2 Hill Stakes (2000m).
On Sunday the in-form gelding heads south for his first Melbourne run since last year’s Melbourne Cup (15th) and takes on a field of 12 rivals in the $500,000 Group 1 Yellowglen Turnbull Stakes (2000m).
He is out to emulate Preferment from last season who took out the Hill Stakes – Turnbull Stakes double, and is drawn a treat in barrier four.
Sydney hoop James McDonald continues his stellar association with Hartnell and the duo pay $2.20 in the latest Turnbull Stakes betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au.
O’Shea and McDonald are yet to enjoy a Turnbull Stakes win, but two of the past four favourites have saluted for the punters with: December Draw (2011) and Green Moon (2012).
Just three other runners Hartnell under double figures in the current Turnbull Stakes odds including the $5.50 second elect Jameka.
Devil Moon (2007) and Makybe Diva (2005) where the last Turnbull Stakes winning mares, and there is some money for the Ciaron Maher-trained 2015 Crown Oaks winner Jameka to be the next.
The four-year-old daughter of Myboycharlie is drawn mid-field in barrier seven with dual Turnbull Stakes winning jockey Nicholas Hall – Efficient (2009) and Zipping (2010) – booked for the ride.
He guided her to victory a fortnight back at Caulfield over the distance in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) and Jameka now chases a double last achieved by December Draw (2011).
Occupying the third line of betting at $6 is The United States jumping from barrier two with another dual winning hoop Damien Oliver – Marble Halls (1997) and Sky Heights (1999) – in the saddle.
Trainer Robert Hickmott has prepared two recent Turnbull Stakes winners with the aforementioned Zipping and Green Moon, and looks to have a genuine chance at making it three victories with Galileo seven-year-old The United States.
The imported stallion is after his first turf triumph since taking out the autumn’s Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) in Sydney, but will relish the step-up in distance after his sixth in the Group 2 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) over the Moonee Valley mile at the start of September.
Rounding out the single-figure hopes at $9.50 is Raw Impulse for Darren Weir in barrier 11 with Craig Williams booked for the Group 1 ride.
Last start the Makfi five-year-old won the Listed Tokyo City Cup (1800m) in Adelaide by nearly five lengths, but Raw Impulse is not a confirmed Turnbull runner having also been accepted for the Group 3 Craven Plate (2000m) in Sydney on Saturday.
The best of the double-figure hopes is last year’s Caulfield Cup third placegetter Our Ivanhowe ($12) with the rails run after scratching out of last weekend’s Underwood Stakes due to a cut on his leg.
Check out the current Turnbull Stakes 2016 betting odds below, pricing from Ladbrokes.com.au.
