El Patroness set for Turnbull Stakes
The Turnbull Stakes in recent years proven the right formula towards for the Caulfield Cup.
Run over 2000m under set-weights and penalties at Flemington on Saturday, the Turnbull Stakes is often seen as a make-or-break race for a number of spring campaign hopefuls.
Recent Turnbull Stakes winners Verry Elleegant (2020) and Incentivise (2021) went on to win the Caulfield Cup that same year while Smokin’ Romans, who was a $21 longshot when successful last year, went on to run the $3.90 favourite at Caulfield, finishing seventh behind Durston.
Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip ran fifth in the Turnbull Stakes before running second at Caulfield two weeks later.
Trainer Danny O’Brien would like to see El Patroness in the Turnbull on Saturday, but after nominations were taken on Monday, she was number 24 in the order of entry.
Saturday’s race has a field limit of 16 plus four emergencies, although there are a number of runners also entered in The Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington and the Hill Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill.
One thing that would be in the favour of El Patroness is a wet track and while the weather forecast is for wet weather, Flemington does have brilliant recuperative powers.
El Patroness heads to the Turnbull Stakes second-up on Saturday after running third first-up at Flemington behind Amelia’s Jewel in the Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) on September 16.
“She was terrific first-up,” O’Brien said.
“The 2000 metres at Flemington is a good set-up for her. She was good in the Australian Cup earlier in the year without any luck and she’s come through it well.
“She’s worked super, and I think she can run well in what I think will be a very deep race.”
El Patroness remains in Caulfield Cup contention and O’Brien said Saturday’s race will determine whether she heads down that path.
“The Turnbull usually defines whether you should be running in the Caulfield Cup,” O’Brien said.
“In most years, it’s the best form race for the race.
“If she puts her hand up and runs super in the Turnbull, then I’d certainly have no problem running her in the Caulfield Cup.”
More Racing News
Thrilling Scone Cup success for in-form Hellsing
Trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald, Hellsing has entered excellent shape and notched his finest victory yet in the Listed $200,000 Arrowfield Scone Cup (1600m) held at Scone on Friday.On his 10th run in a preparation exceeding six months, Hellsing is thriving more than ever, building on a Royal Randwick...
Trainer Moloney sees ongoing enhancement in Hearcomesthestar
Improvement has marked every preparation, and John Moloney, the trainer, expects additional development from Hearcomesthestar in her upcoming appearance at Flemington.From 28 races, Hearcomesthestar has notched six wins and eight places, but Stakes grade has proven challenging for her.The approaching six-year-old earned a Listed placing at Geelong earlier this year,...
Searle family from SA chasing Melbourne Cup dream with Sir Kingsford
Gary and Nichole Searle, together with their daughter Brianna Callanan, form a South Australian training outfit with ambitions for Sir Kingsford in the Melbourne Cup.A victory in Saturday's Listed Andrew Ramsden (3200m) at Flemington earns the winner a Melbourne Cup ballot exemption ahead of the big November event.Nichole Searle sampled...
Scone's Luskin Star Stakes sees Estadio Mestalla with tough weight
Trainer Joe Pride questions the two-kilo advantage given to a Group 1 winner over Estadio Mestalla in the Luskin Star Stakes, but trusts the steady gelding to deliver full commitment.At seven years old, he notched his top triumph in the prior year's Listed Winter Stakes (1100m) and must shoulder 61kg...
Barrier 18 no hindrance to Sequista's Scone return
Trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou believe filly Sequista has the class for black-type success despite her tendency to undermine herself.Having notched stakes placings in the 2024 Inglis Nursery (1000m) and run near the placings in Tempted's Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m), the three-year-old targets another milestone in Saturday's Listed Denise's...
Flemington awaits Concord Connie's next bold move
Trainer Charlotte Littlefield hopes her talented filly Concord Connie can replicate her recent feat before entertaining grander aspirations.In her third race appearance at Flemington on Anzac Day, Concord Connie notched a breathtaking win by six lengths in sharp time.This Saturday, the filly heads back to Flemington to compete against the...
Dark Jewel Classic in sights for Harlem Queen
While Harlem Queen didn't sustain her early promise from age three, trainer Nathan Doyle feels confident after her trouble-free lead-up that she might restore reliable results.She returns Saturday in the Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) held at Scone, where despite preferring stamina tests ahead, barrier five positions her well for Doyle's...
Flemington run to decide Different Gravy's Queensland Derby chances
At Flemington, Different Gravy will put his Queensland Derby dreams to the test in upcoming action.Following a Listed triumph over 1800m at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day last year, trainer Henry Dwyer fixed his focus on the northern Derby.The Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm scheduled for May...
Abounding's scratch lets Napoleonic into Doomben 10,000 lineup
Confirmation has arrived that Napoleonic will join the Doomben 10,000 field, following Abounding's removal which opened the door for the colt in the elite Group 1 dash.Team members experienced a stressful seven days after the three-year-old earned second emergency status for the $1.5 million event, as reserve Beadman claimed a...
Snowden's stable loaded with top sprinters for feature clashes
Boasting a stable full of high-caliber sprinters primed for black-type action, trainer Peter Snowden enjoys the luxury of picking and choosing among several prestigious races.Just a couple of weeks earlier, Zealously claimed victory in the Hawkesbury Gold Rush (1100m), followed by King Of Roseau and Beadman grabbing interstate stakes wins...