2026 TAB Turnbull Stakes Contenders

It’s no surprise that the TAB Turnbull Stakes is a race which has been described as the spring shaper on a day also known as 'Moving Day' at Flemington.

Trainers know that if their horses don’t race well on Turnbull Stakes Day then their spring aspirations are forlorn ones.

You only need to look at Turnbull Stakes results over the last decade to underline how important the event is for the rest of the spring.

In 2025, Sir Delius took out the race from Antino, with Via Sistina third and Half Yours in fourth place. Via Sistina then won the Cox Plate and TAB Champions Stakes, and Half Yours went on to do the Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup at their next two starts.

In 2024, Via Sistina took out the Turnbull Stakes and then won the Cox Plate and the TAB Champions Stakes. Fourth placegetter was Duke De Sessa won the Caulfield Cup at his next start. Knight's Choice finished last in the Turnbull on an unsuitable soft track, but three starts later caused an upset winning the Lexus Melbourne Cup.

In 2021, Incentivise won the Turnbull Stakes and then the Caulfield Cup, just as Verry Elleegant did the previous year.

2022 saw the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Gold Trip finish fifth in the Turnbull Stakes, then second in the Caulfield Cup and won the Melbourne Cup. He returned a year later to win the 2023 Turnbull Stakes and then finished third in the Caulfield Cup.

In 2019, Vow And Declare finished fourth in the Turnbull Stakes and then second in the Caulfield Cup before he won the Melbourne Cup.

The mighty Winx won the Turnbull Stakes in 2017 and 2018 before she took out the Cox Plate at her next start each year.

And that’s only the last ten years. While the Turnbull Stakes is a quality race itself it certainly is the spring shaper.

History awaits Chris Waller, who has five runners in the race, if he can train the winner as he will become the first trainer to have won the race seven times. Presently he shares that status with Lee Freedman who also trained six winners of the Turnbull Stakes.

Race 8 - TAB Turnbull Stakes (2000m) - 4:25pm

Group 1. Of $750,000. 1st $450,000, 2nd $135,000, 3rd $67,500, 4th $33,750, 5th $18,750, 6th $15,000, 7th $15,000, 8th $15,000. 

For 4YO & Upwards Set Weights plus Penalties. Apprentices cannot claim.

He was the headline act of last year’s spring carnival as he won the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup double. It was this race last year where he put his hand up that he could be a major player in the spring when he finished fourth. He’s ready to fire again based on first-up sixth in the Makybe Diva Stakes when he finished strongly. He ran his last 400 metres in 22.14 seconds which was the third fastest for the race which would have pleased his trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy. He finished fourth in this race last year.

He’s one of Australia’s best gallopers and he’s looking to become the first galloper since Winx in 2017 and 2018 to win consecutive Turnbull Stakes. A look back at who he defeated last year underlines how much ability the son of Frankel has as Via Sistina finished third and Half Yours fourth. He added the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick last autumn to his CV. He finished a sound first-up fourth in the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington and he will run at over his pet distance.

He returns to his happy hunting ground of Flemington and his pet distance of 2000m where he has won the last two Australian Cups. The Ciaron Maher trained galloper has had one other start over 2000m at Flemington where he finished fifth behind Via Sistina in the VRC Champions Stakes on a heavy track. He tired when he finished a second-up fifth in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) but he tends to improve at Flemington.

Perth raider who made an immediate impression in Melbourne winning the the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) and the Group 2 Lawrence Stakes (1400m) both at Caulfield. Since then, he ran on strongly for a Group 1 third in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) behind Beiwacht. Then last start he was ridden to be more prominent, but he didn’t have an answer to the finishing burst of Birdman when he finished second to him in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m). He will go back and run on well.

Top class mare who demonstrated her capabilities last autumn in Sydney where she won the Group 1 races, the Ranvet Stakes (2000m) and the Tancred Stakes (2400m) consecutively at Rosehill. After a disappointing first-up last she showed she is back with her last start second to Autumn Glow in a Group 2 (1600m) at Randwick. She finished fifth in this race last year. She’s on a Cox Plate mission.

He’s another of Chris Waller’s five-pronged attack in the race and he was also nominated for The Bart Cummings. The former New Zealander wasn’t beaten that far at his last start when he finished third to Zahrann in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield in an encouraging run. On face value he’s a query at this level.

Former Irish galloper who showed his potential when he finished second in a Group 2 at Royal Ascot last year over 2414m. The Ciaron Maher trained five-year-old stallion demonstrated he will be a force this spring last start when he powered home from mid-field to win the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield which was only his fourth Australian run. He’s on the rise and he’s bound to run a big race and put his hand up as a spring force.

Another Chris Waller trained galloper who will be much better suited over 2000m. Last autumn she was transferred to Waller after she won the New Zealand Oaks and two starts later, she won the ATC Oaks. She is a true stayer and her last start ninth in the Makybe Diva Stakes was better than it looked as after settling out the back her last 200m was in 11.41 seconds which was the fifth fastest for the race. She has had five starts at 2000m to 2400m for four wins and a close-up fourth in the Vinery Stakes.

Another Ciaron Maher trained import who has shown talent in Australia with his best run being in last year’s Melbourne Cup when he finished third. His two runs back from a spell have been moderate with his last start a 6.06L seventh in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes behind Birdman. He finished ninth in this race last year. He’s on a Melbourne Cup mission and he should produce a forward showing.

He finished second in the Sydney Cup earlier this year and his last start third in the Group 2 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Randwick suggests he’s in for another good campaign. He finished fourth in the Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes (2000m) at Randwick earlier this year so he could fill a place in a race of this strength.

Top class weight-for-age performer who finished second in this race in 2024 to Via Sistina. On that occasion he looked likely to beat her, but she was able to kick back and beat him by a head. Via Sistina also deprived him of last year’s Cox Plate when she again beat him in a photo. Buckaroo was slow to begin but he didn’t finish off as expected at his last start when he finished fifth to his stablemate Birdman in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield. Look for a better run.

Grahame Begg has a promising middle-distance prospect with this lightly raced six-year-old mare. She won the Group 2 Zipping Classic at Caulfield last year over 2400m. She had a Sydney/Brisbane campaign where she ran a third, fourth and two fifths. She produced an encouraging first-up effort in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) where she finished fifth. She produced the fastest last 200m in that race of 11.35 seconds. 2000m will suit better. One at odds.

Another Ciaron Maher runner and he is in great form. He was successful this track and distance two starts in a BM100 in July which he followed with a second to his stablemate Zahrann in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes where he carried 3.5 kgs more and he will meet him on 4.5kgs better terms here. He’s on the up and can’t be ruled out.

Capable stayer who finished sixth in this race last year where he was only beaten 2.83 lengths. His two runs back from a spell have been sound with a third in the Listed Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) and then eighth in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) where he was only beaten 1.97 lengths. He shouldn’t be far away.

It was a better run than it looked last start when he was third-up at Caulfield in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) where he worked to the line strongly in the last 200m to finish seventh out wide where his finishing split for that distance was 11.82 seconds which was the second fastest of the race. Mornington Cup winner who could run a cheeky race.