Group 1 racing will continue this weekend, with the running of the time-honoured Turnbull Stakes at Flemington.
Cox Plate favourite Romantic Warrior will lead a jam-packed field on Saturday, with last year’s Melbourne Cup winner in Gold Trip also set to feature in the $750,000 event.
With plenty of exciting gallopers in action, the race promises to give a glimpse into the remainder of the spring carnival and will headline a bumper day at the track.
The Sporting News has all the tips, analysis and betting preview for the big race below.
Turnbull Stakes 2023 final field, barriers and betting odds
The final field for this year’s Turnbull Stakes has been confirmed, with Romantic Warrior the overwhelming favourite to continue its winning ways.
Odds courtesy of Dabble, correct as of October 6th.
| Runner (Barrier) | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
| 1. Romantic Warrior (11) | James McDonald | Danny Shum | $2.05 |
| 2. Gold Trip (18) | Mark Zahra | C.Maher/D.Eustace | $10 |
| 3. Smokin Romans (17) | Jamie Mott | C.Maher/D.Eustace | $126 |
| 4. Francesco Guardi (7) | Damian Lane | Chris Waller | $20 |
| 5. West Wind Blows (8) | Jamie Spencer | S & E. Crisford | $8.00 |
| 6. Emissary (5) | Jamie Kah | Michael Moroney | $71 |
| 7. Osipenko (6) | Damien Oliver | Chris Waller | $6.50 |
| 8. Uncle Bryn (1) | Daniel Moor | T.Busuttin/N.Young | $41 |
| 9. Berkeley Square (14) | Harry Coffey | Dan O’Sullivan | $81 |
| 10. Bank Maur (4) | Craig Newitt | Richard Laming | $126 |
| 11. Soulcombe (2) | Craig Williams | Chris Waller | $8.00 |
| 12. Duke De Sessa (12) | John Allen | C.Maher/D.Eustace | $34 |
| 13. Spanish Mission (10) | Beau Mertens | P.Moody/K.Coleman | $126 |
| 14. El Bodegon (9) | Ben Melham | Chris Waller | $126 |
| 15. Right You Are (16) | Dean Yendall | C.Maher/D.Eustace | $18 |
| 16. Lunar Flare (15) | Michael Dee | Grahame Begg | $126 |
| 17. El Patroness (3) | Jye McNeill | Danny O’Brien | $34 |
| 18. Goldman (13) | Jordan Childs | G.Waterhouse/A.Bott | $51 |
Turnbull Stakes 2023 betting preview and tips
There’s only one horse on the tip of everyone’s tongue heading into this race, with odds-on favourite Romantic Warrior ($2.05) returning from a spell and set for his first start in Australia.
The five-year-old gelding has been one of the best horses in Hong Kong in recent years, collecting over $16 million and winning three Group 1 events. With five wins from six starts over the 2km trip, he poses a massive threat to some of the country’s best middle-distance runners in the Turnbull Stakes and Cox Plate.
Soulcombe ($8) is a horse that has attracted plenty of attention early in the spring, winning first-up and finishing fourth in the Underwood Stakes, 1.4 lengths behind superstar Alligator Blood, and will come into this race at peak fitness and ready to fire.
Group 2 winner Osipenko ($6.50) recently finished third in the Maybe Diva Stakes and has won previously at this distance, while overseas raider West Wind Blows ($8) is a proven winner in the UK and has either emerged victorious or placed in all six starts over 2000 metres.
Last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip ($10) will be second-up from a spell but is likely looking for a longer distance despite receiving strong support in the market, while the in-form Right You Are ($18) is certainly in the mix, winning twice and placing once at this range.
According to Blake Johnston from The Leg Up Australia podcast, the favourite may be a little too strong and the addition of James McDonald in the saddle is a huge boost.
“The fact that James is saying that he’s a good horse and that he’s his spring carnival Cox Plate ride and it’s been locked in, he must be a good horse,” Johnston said.
“He’s going there to ride him this weekend and you’d suggest that he could have ridden a few winners in Sydney. I’m gonna back him in, I think he’ll be hard enough to beat. Maybe he’ll be too good for them.
“I think he’s a pretty good horse. Francesco Guardi will run well, but I don’t think he will win yet.”
Co-host Nick Lloyd agreed that the Hong Kong standout will be tough to topple, but has opted to go with an outside chance to come out on top in the Turnbull.
“I’m gonna throw a little bit of a roughie out there for the punters… a horse from Ciaron Maher and David Eustace camp by the name of Right You Are,” he said.
“His last start in the Underwood, he ran fifth and was beaten two lengths and carried 59kg there at weight-for-age. A few people have spotted it so he’s $17 and I think he profiles similarly to Smokin Romans, who won it last year.
“He’ll roll forward from the wide draw, 55kg on his back… all over red rover.
THE LEG UP’S EXPERT TIPS: Romantic Warrior ($2.05) or Right You Are ($18)
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