Turnbull Stakes
The Turnbull Stakes is a Group 1 race for 4yo & upwards horses that takes place each year in early October at Flemington racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria. The race is run over a distance of 2000 metres under set weight & penalty conditions with $750,000 in prize money. The 2020 Turnbull Stakes was won by Verry Elleegant from Toffee Tongue with Finche third.
Once football finishes, the Turnbull Stakes heralds in big-time spring racing. It was upgraded from Group 2 to Group 1 status in 2005, and over time has grown into a pivotal middle distance race of the spring racing carnival.
Turnbull Stakes info
| Date: | Saturday 2nd October 2021 |
| Track: | Flemington racecourse, Melbourne |
| Distance: | 2000 metres |
| Race Type: | 4yo&Up - Set Weights + Penalty |
| Status: | Group 1 |
| Prize Money: | $750,000 |
| 2020 Winner: | Verry Elleegant |
 Turnbull Stakes odds |
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The Turnbull Stakes is rated below the major Group 1 spring races like the Melbourne Cup and WS Cox Plate, but it's held in high esteem and has become a prestigious event on the racing calendar each year.
This race is the first quality 2000 metre event of the spring and gives staying types a chance to race over a more suitable middle distance with the upcoming Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup in mind. The Turnbull Stakes also provides a more than handy lead up race to the Caulfield Stakes at Caulfield the following week, along with the Caulfield Cup two weeks later. The race itself has been a tremendous guide to winners of major spring races and a number of high class gallopers have managed to win this race.
In recent years the Turnbull Stakes has provided multiple Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup and WS Cox Plate winners, and continues to be a pivotal race every year for horses contesting the major Group 1 races to come.
The Turnbull Stakes always attracts top class gallopers and is one of the premier middle distance events of the spring carnival. History says to keep an eye on the Turnbull Stakes.
Kings Will Dream (2019) finished unplaced in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes over 1600m at Flemington before scoring a stylish victory in this event for the Chris Waller stable.
Recent Turnbull Stakes winners include champion mare Winx (2017-2018) in successive years, and Hartnell (2016).
Spring Carnival Guide
Classy Ciaron Maher-trained mare Jameka (2016) scored a resounding victory in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup at Caulfield after finishing runner-up to Hartnell in this event. Hartnell (2016) finished an eight-length second to Winx in the Cox Plate following his easy Turnbull Stakes win.
Amralah (7th in 2015) headed to Caulfield next start to win the Gr2 Herbert Power Stakes in stylish fashion.
Fawkner (3rd in 2013) won the Caulfield Cup at his next start while Dear Demi (8th in 2013) ran third in the same race. Fiorente (4th in 2013) ran third in the Group 1 WS Cox Plate at Moonee Valley before winning the Melbourne Cup at Flemington.
Green Moon (2012) went on to win the Melbourne Cup after taking out this event.
The 2011 Turnbull Stakes provided plenty of feature race winners later in the spring with Glass Harmonium (2011) claiming the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington, Playing God (3rd in 2011) winning the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic at Ascot, and Southern Speed (4th in 2011) taking out the Caulfield Cup at Caulfield. Rekindled Interest (5th in 2011) ran third in both the WS Cox Plate and Mackinnon Stakes.
Zipping (2010) went on to place in the WS Cox Plate for the third year in a row before going on to win the Group 2 Sandown Classic for the fourth consecutive year.
2020 Turnbull Stakes result
1. $5.00 Verry Elleegant 55.5 Mark Zahra
2. $71.00 Toffee Tongue 53.5 Michael Dee
3. $5.50 Finche 54.5 Ben Melham
then followed
4. $20.00 Dalasan 56.5 Jamie Kah
5. $6.00 Master Of Wine 56.5 Michael Rodd
6. $61.00 Warning 56.5 Billy Egan
7. $8.00 Superstorm 53.5 William Pike
8. $21.00 Harlem 54.5 Jamie Mott
9. $6.00 Surprise Baby 57.5 Craig Williams
10. $21.00 Kings Will Dream 57.5 Jye McNeil
11. $26.00 Django Freeman 54.5 Luke Nolen
12. $26.00 Vow And Declare 57.5 Damien Oliver
13. $21.00 King Of Leogrance 56.5 Damian Lane
14. $91.00 Oceanex 55.5 Dean Yendall
15. $71.00 Aktau 56.5 Daniel Moor
Margins: 0.1 len, 0.1 len
Time: 2:01.84
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Turnbull Stakes winners & placegetters
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd | Time |
| 2020 | Verry Elleegant | Toffee Tongue | Finche | 2:01.8 |
| 2019 | Kings Will Dream | Finche | Hartnell | 2:03.5 |
| 2018 | Winx | Youngstar | Kings Will Dream | 2:01.6 |
| 2018 | Winx | Youngstar | Kings Will Dream | 2:01.6 |
| 2017 | Winx | Ventura Storm | Humidor | 2:02.0 |
| 2016 | Hartnell | Jameka | Tally | 2:01.0 |
| 2015 | Preferment | Royal Descent | Set Square | 2:01.3 |
| 2014 | Lucia Valentina | Lidari | Brambles | 2:01.8 |
| 2013 | Happy Trails | Puissance De Lune | Fawkner | 2:02.9 |
| 2012 | Green Moon | Seville | December Draw | 2:02.1 |
| 2011 | December Draw | Glass Harmonium | Playing God | 2:03.9 |
| 2010 | Zipping | Shocking | Shoot Out | 2:03.2 |
| 2009 | Efficient | Predatory Pricer | Scenic Shot | 2:01.6 |
| 2008 | Littorio | Master O'Reilly | Zipping | 2:02.4 |
| 2007 | Devil Moon | Scenic Shot | Haradasun | 2:03.4 |
| 2006 | Sphenophyta | Our Smoking Joe | Aqua D Amore | 2:01.9 |
| 2005 | Makybe Diva | Lad Of The Manor | Confectioner | 2:01.5 |
| 2004 | Elvstroem | Mummify | Confectioner | 2:00.4 |
| 2003 | Studebaker | Pentastic | Strasbourg | 2:04.0 |
| 2002 | Northerly | Dash For Cash | Fields Of Omagh | 2:02.3 |
| 2001 | Sunline | Universal Prince | Primrose Sands | 2:03.9 |
| 2000 | Fairway | Sunline | Diatribe | 2:02.2 |
| 1999 | Sky Heights | Ruy Lopez | Inaflury | 2:04.6 |
| 1998 | Aerosmith | Gold Guru | Our Unicorn | 2:05.8 |
| 1997 | Marble Halls | Always Aloof | Seascay | 2:03.1 |
| 1996 | Doriemus | Beaux Art | Cheviot | 2:09.3 |
| 1995 | All Our Mob | Doriemus | Sir Kingi | 2:01.1 |
| 1994 | Redding | Paris Lane | Tristalove | 2:03.7 |
| 1993 | The Phantom Chance | Naturalism | Kiwi Golfer | 2:05.7 |
| 1992 | Naturalism | London Bridge | Mr Eurostar | 2:03.0 |
| 1991 | Lets Elope | Prince Salieri | Renteeno | 2:01.9 |
| 1990 | Better Loosen Up | Royal Creation | Shuzohra | 2:04.4 |
| 1989 | Super Impose | Research | Sydeston | 2:03.4 |
| 1988 | Vo Rogue | Apollo Run | Ebeli Show | 2:01.9 |
| 1987 | Vo Rogue | Fair Sir | King Of Brooklyn | 2:01.3 |
| 1986 | Just Now | Pharostan | Cimarra | 2:03.7 |
| 1985 | Lacka Reason | Our Sophia | Glen Moriston | 2:04.8 |
| 1984 | Al Dwain | Alibhai | Beechcraft | 2:04.9 |
| 1983 | Chez Nous | La Cocotte | Malvita | 2:02.0 |
| 1982 | Birchwood | Fearless Pride | Prince Majestic | 2:02.8 |
| 1981 | No Peer | Deck The Halls | Saxon Slew | 2:03.9 |
| 1980 | Amarla | Polo Player | My Brown Jug | 2:03.1 |
Flemington Racecourse hosts the Turnbull Stakes
The Victoria Racing Club hosts the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington racecourse during the Melbourne spring racing carnival in Victoria. It typically takes place the week after the AFL Grand Final and signals the onset of feature racing action in October and November.
Flemington racecourse is home to the four-day Melbourne Cup Carnival in November where thoroughbred racing sets Melbourne alight with four magnificent days of racing. Melbourne comes alive during Melbourne Cup Week as racegoers and socialtes gather for a week-long festival of racing, partying and socialising.
Some great horses have won the Turnbull Stakes over the years including three-time Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva (2015). Other greats to win this time-honoured race are Elvstroem (2014), Northerly (2002), Sunline (2001), Doriemus (1996), Lets Elope (1991), Better Loosen Up (1990), Super Impose (1989) and Vo Rogue (1987 & 1988).
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