This Sunday in Melbourne the Group 1 Victorian Spring Racing Carnival action continues with the 2016 Turnbull Stakes, betting tips and a detailed form guide on the clash found below.
Our Ivanhowe is the Races.com.au tip to win Sunday’s Turnbull Stakes 2016 at Flemington Racecourse in an upset. Photo: Daniel Costello.
Running as Flemington Race 7 at 3:55pm (AEDT), this season’s $500,000 Group 1 Yellowglen Turnbull Stakes (2000m) features 13 hopefuls with the markets at Ladbrokes.com.au firmly led by Hartnell ($2.15).
Drawn a treat in barrier four, the John O’Shea-trained six-year-old is after his third win on the trot after taking out the Chelmsford Stakes – Hill Stakes double in Sydney in September.
The in-form import is after his second Group 1 trophy after taking out the 2015 The BMW and is out to improve on his sixth to Preferment when beaten only 1.35 lengths in the Turnbull last year.
At set weights plus penalties Hartnell carries 57.5kg on Sunday, which is within the most successful weight range (56.5kg – 57.5kg) with six winners carrying those kilos since 2002.
His lead-up Sydney win is also promising as he chases the Hill Stakes – Turnbull Stakes double achieved 12 months ago by Preferment.
The biggest threats in the Turnbull Stakes odds this season are the Ciaron Maher-trained Jameka ($5.50) coming off a Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) win at Caulfield a fortnight ago and Robert Hickmott’s Ranvet Stakes winner from the autumn The United States ($6.50).
So will Hartnell become the first Turnbull Stakes winning favourite since Green Moon (2012) or is there an upset on the agenda from a longer priced hopeful such as the rails-drawn Doomben Cup winner Our Ivanhowe ($13) in his delayed second-up run or the reigning champ Preferment ($21) at the big odds to go back-to-back?
1st
#6 Our Ivanhowe ($13)
The Lee & Anthony Freedman-trained Caulfield Cup third-placegetter missed out on a run in the Underwood Stakes because of a minor injury, but can atone with his second-up run here over the same distance. He is drawn the rails, which hasn’t produced a Turnbull Stakes winner since Northerly (2002), but was strong for the Makybe Diva Stakes fifth when resuming here over the mile. The extra metres suit as he won the Doomben Cup over 2000m in the winter and he looks to be weighted okay.
2nd
#4 Hartnell ($2.15)
The favourite deserves his top spot in betting, but is looking pretty short in a field full of Group 1 winners. He chases his third straight win, but from two previous Flemington starts is yet to finish in the money. His last Melbourne run was the Melbourne Cup 15th last year over two miles, and he’ll be better at 2000m (7-3-0-1) looking at his record at the distance. James McDonald retains the ride, the barrier is good and he’ll get the room he needs at Flemington for a big run.
3rd
#9 Jameka ($5.50)
The reigning Crown Oaks winner is out to be the first Turnbull Stakes winning mare since 2007 (Devil Moon) and after winning the Naturalism Stakes over the distance a fortnight ago by a big 3.75 length margin she’s definitely in this with a chance. She drops from 55.5kg that run to 54.5kg here, Nicholas Hall rides the four-year-old again and she is a dual winner at the Flemington track with plenty of upside four runs into her spring.
Whether you’re backing or sacking our exclusive Turnbull Stakes 2016 betting tips make sure you check out the full form guide below and head to Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Odds Boost (T&Cs apply).
