Turnbull Stakes

Winners and Past Results

Victoria Racing Club hosts a number of black type races during the Melbourne spring racing carnival which includes the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes for horses four years old and upwards.

The 2000 metre race is held at Flemington Racecourse in October under set weight and penalty conditions. A tidy purse of $500,000 is offered by the VRC in what is considered one of the premier races during the spring carnival. The race has produced a number of high class gallopers like Makybe Diva who have gone on to win the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate, and Melbourne Cup as well.

The Turnbull Stakes is the ideal platform for horses preparing for the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup, and is also a handy form guide for the Yalumba Stakes held at Caulfield Racecourse one week later. Horses may use a number of races as a warm up for the Turnbull Stakes although the 1800 M Group 1 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield a fortnight earlier is one of the races to follow.

Some of the finest gallopers to etch their name on the trophy and move on to achieve greater success include Zipping in 2010 who was runner in the WS Cox Plate in his next run and followed it up with a fourth place in the Melbourne Cup and his fourth Group 2 Sandown Classic in succession. Unplaced in the 2009 Turnbull Stakes, Viewed and Roman Emperor went on to cross the finishing line in the Caulfield Cup ahead of the rest in the same order. Makybe Diva followed up her 2005 Turnbull Stakes win iwth a victory in the WS Cox Plate as well and then went on to win three Melbourne Cups in succession. Elvstroem managed to scored a Turnbull Stakes / Caulfield Cup double in 2004.

The Turnbull Stakes has been hosted by VRC since 1865 and remained a principal race until Dulcify won in 1979 when it achieved Group 2 status. It was upgraded to Group 1 in 2006 and had a brief demotion to Group 2 the next year. However, it has enjoyed Group 1 status again since 2010.

Lee Freedman, one of the most prolific Melbourne Cup trainers, is also one of the most successful trainers in the Turnbull Stakes, and his wins in this race account for a number of his Group 1 victories. Other notable winners of the Turnbull Stakes include Rising Fast (1954), Galilee (1968), Super Impose (1989), Let's Elope (1991), Naturalism (1992), Doriemus (1996), Northerly (2001) and Elvstroem (2004).

2011 Turnbull Stakes

December Draw turned in a top staying performance which promises even bigger prizes ahead. The six-year-old enjoyed a good early run, not far behind the leader Glass Harmonium, and really got into his work as they came in to the straight where he looked every inch a winner. Glass Harmonium fought back strongly however and December Draw had to call on all his stamina and class to regain the lead and claim a narrow win. Playing God was two lengths back in third.

2011 Turnbull Stakes result

1. December Draw
2. Glass Harmonium
3. Playing God

Then came:

4. Southern Speed
5. Rekindled Interest
6. Absolutely
7. Shamrocker
8. Efficient
9. Raffaello
10. Precedence
11. Extra Zero
12. Linton