Flemington shines with TAB Turnbull Stakes Day class

Sir Delius supreme in Turnbull Stakes 

Imported stayer Sir Delius has leapt to the top of markets for the Melbourne Cup after disposing of a class field of horses in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington. 

The Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday is a race regarded as one that shapes the future of the Melbourne Spring Carnival. 

Sir Delius was dynamic in his victory on Saturday and had his price shortened for the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 4 to lead the market over Al Riffa while only Via Sistina sits between he and favouritism for the Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 25. 

Ridden by Craig Williams, Sir Delius overcame a wide draw and an interrupted passage before scoring a 1¾ length victory from Antino with race favourite Via Sistina a long neck away third. 

Via Sistina and Sir Delius are due to clash again in the Cox Plate, a race the former won by an astonishing eight lengths 12 months ago. 

The five-year-old entire by Frankel has now won three of his four starts in Australia, twice at Group 1 level and Waterhouse said there was more improvement to come. 

“He’s put on condition. He’s relaxed more and whatever he runs in, they’re going to have to beat him,” Waterhouse said. 

“He’s a most exciting horse.” 

War Machine blitzes in feature sprint 

With the Hayes family already Everest bound with favourite Ka Ying rising, War Machine did his hopes no harm of gaining a start with his win in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m). 

Hong Kong visitor Ka Ying Rising is prepared by Lindsay Park patriarch David Hayes and is the odds-on favourite for Group 1 The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 18. 

While the Ben, Will and J D Hayes-trained War Machine is yet to be a confirmed starter, Will Hayes said there had been interest in the sprinter taking a slot in the $20 million race. 

“There’s a lot of interest around, so it is something we’d consider with the ownership group,” Hayes said of an Everest slot. 

“It is exciting and there is a good one in there, but we are happy to take it on if we get the opportunity. 

“Ka Ying Rising is an amazing horse, and we have a good one too. It is a good problem to have.” 

War Machine is unbeaten in four starts since joining Lindsay Park after being originally prepared by Mike Moroney and Glen Thompson. 

Valiant King earns Cup Golden Ticket 

Valiant King has raced his way into Melbourne Cup calculations with a strong staying performance in The Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington. 

The Bart Cummings provides the winner a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 4. 

Valiant King ran in the Melbourne Cup last year, finishing 13th behind Knight’s Choice and the gelding has been given a different program leading into this year’s Spring Carnival. 

After finishing last first-up over 1500m in Sydney, Valiant King was sent to Melbourne by trainer Chris Waller and was given a jump-out at Flemington in preparation for racing at Flemington on Saturday. 

“We were really unlucky to miss the Sydney Cup in the autumn when he had a minor foot issue leading into it and we just thought he was primed and ready to go, but hey, it will be much better to win a Melbourne Cup than a Sydney Cup.” 

Options Derby bound after Super Impose win 

The Group 1 Victoria Derby is in Tony and Calvin McEvoy's thoughts after Options took out the Listed Super Imposed Stakes (1800m) after a patient ride from Harry Coffery. 

Successful in his first two starts at Echuca and Bendigo, Options was beaten in the Victoria Derby Trial (1800m) at Flemington last month before rebounding with a strong performance on Saturday. 

Calvin McEvoy said the stable was planning to head to the Group 2 Vase (2040m) at Moonee Valley a week before the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on November 1. 

“He’s the most beautiful colt and he handles the work,” McEvoy said. 

“Today was a test to see if he needed the blinkers on and see if he could hit the line and prove he’s a Derby horse, and that he did. 

“He was always a bit green hence why he had the blinkers on for his final trial with James (Cummings) before we took over.” 

Getta Good Feeling about the Oaks 

The Danny O’Brien stable knows what is required to win the Group 1 VRC Oaks, and they have Getta Good Feeling aimed at the Classic after her maiden win on Saturday. 

Success in the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) came at the expense of victory in a maiden race at Geelong on Thursday, and more importantly added to her value as a future broodmare. 

O’Brien said the Wakeful Stakes (2000m) on Derby Day and the VRC Oaks (2500m) on November 6 had been earmarked for Getta Good Feeling when she commenced her campaign in August. 

“When we drew well here, we thought she’d be very competitive, and it would also give her a look at Flemington before Cup week,” O’Brien said. 

“Getting out to the mile at a big track, we always thought she’d attack the line. The way she launched late gives us plenty of confidence for the rest of the spring.” 

O’Brien said he would need to discuss with owner Jonathan Munz where Getta Good Feeling is likely to race next with the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) and the Group 3 Ethereal Stakes (2000m) both scheduled for October 18 at Caulfield. 

“She’ll run at Caulfield,” O’Brien said. 

“I’ll have a chat to Jonathon. She’s nominated for the Thousand Guineas and we’ll decide which one she runs in closer to the date.” 

Eurocanto gives Zahra early 2YO win

Jockey Mark Zahra is usually reluctant to partner early season two-year-olds, but he makes an exception for the Lindsay Park stable. 

Zahra and Lindsay Park trainers Ben, Will and J D Hayes combined to take out the first two-year-old race of the new season in Victoria, the Listed Maribyrnong Trial (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday with Eurocanto. 

Settling back in field before edging wide over the final 200m, Eurocanto ran down Streisand ($5.50) to score by a half-head with One Day At A Time a neck away third. 

“To be honest, I usually don’t like riding two-year-olds too early but when the Hayes’ call, I’ll pick up the phone,” Zahra said. 

“They’ll usually identify one that they’re happy with and they want me to trial. 

“It is a good process and if I like it them, I’ll stick with it.”

"He's an athletic style of horse with plenty of improvement to come and it was good to be able to kick off his career in that fashion." 

Miraval Rose goes all-the-way 

After an all-the-way victory at Caulfield, Miraval Rose has gone back-to-back with another on pace win, this time taking out the Group 2 Rose Of Kingston Stakes (1400m). 

The win provided the Grahame Begg stable with a double after it took out the opening race, the TAB We’re On (1200m) with De Bergerac. 

Begg was a noticeable absentee on Saturday, at home nursing a hip ailment. 

Stable spokesman Rohan Hughes said the key to Miraval Rose’s form this campaign has been getting dry ground. 

“She loves that sort of ground,” Hughes said. 

“Grahame gave her a decent break. It is the first time she has had a decent break, and she’s come back great. Her trials and three runs in, she’s flying. 

“We went to Queensland with her after her first preparation and we were quite bullish with her, but we kept running into wet tracks. It just stymies their preparation, and they lose rhythm.” 

McGaw a quick draw down Flemington straight 

The Emma-Lee and David Browne stable registered their biggest win on Australian soil when McGaw took out the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1100m). 

McGaw led the outside division in the nine-horse field being tracked by runner-up My Gladiola. 

The pair singled out over the final 100m, with McGaw prevailing by a short-half-head. 

It was a turnaround in form for McGaw who was comfortably held when finishing fifth in the Listed Poseidon Stakes (1100m) on September 13. 

The Browne’s brought McGaw back for an 800m jump-out down the straight at Flemington last Thursday week for some added experience and the gelding was advantaged by the extra workout. 

“I think (the jump out) helped a lot and we learnt a bit about him last time,” David Browne said. 

“We had to let him go with them and let a fast horse be fast. I thought we were going to be a bit vulnerable late, but he ran it out well. 

“He likes to get into a dog fight and if he can get into one, he’ll finish strong.” 

Browne said the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on November 1 was the next likely option for McGaw. 

“That was a good field today and to be amongst them was good,” Browne said. 

“We’ll let the dust settle. He’s a gelding so there are plenty of options. We’ll do what is best for the horse.”

Grahame Begg took training honours with a winning double while in the saddle ten jockeys added to their Flemington tally across the card.