Turnbull Stakes the Golden Path for Caulfield Cup 2025 hope

Co-trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr are weighing the upside and risk of targeting the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) with Golden Path.

If they press on to the premier handicap, the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) on Saturday is poised to be his lead-up run into the October 18 contest.

“It is still to be confirmed but he’ll have a nomination in the Turnbull,” Kent Jnr said.

“We’ve had some lengthy discussions with the ownership group, and we might have a throw at the Caulfield Cup.

“If we are going that way, and I think we are, then the Turnbull is the likely lead in.”

This campaign, Golden Path has been busy: third first-up over 1600m at Caulfield on August 16, a strong Flemington victory under 61kg at 1700m on September 13, and a gritty third in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) one week later, beaten under half-a-length.

The stable saw that Underwood performance as a significant peak.

“Our opinion is he’s probably a couple of lengths shy of the best horses in these weight-for-age races over 2000 (metres) and his chance of winning a big race is in a handicap like the Caulfield Cup,” Kent Jnr said.

“We think he’s in the race, which is a start, he’s got 54-½ kilos, so he’s in with a reasonable weight.

“My personal gut feel is that he’ll enjoy 2400 (metres). It’s a bit of a gamble as he’s never been past 2000 metres, but I think it’s the right time to take that gamble.

“It’s a $5 million punt and the way he can sustain a gallop over 2000 (metres), I’d be hopeful he would enjoy 2400 (metres).

“He’s got a great racing style that suits Caulfield and he’s a horse in really good form.

“We may not get the same opportunity next year.”

Kent Jnr added that one more hit-out is required before Cup day and the Turnbull is preferred over the Group 1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m) on October 11, with the latter ruled out to avoid back-to-back seven-day turnarounds.

They believe the gelding has thrived with maturity, while keeping expectations in check against the country’s elite.

“The winter in Sydney last year was when he found his best form,” Kent Jnr said.

“The autumn in Sydney this year, we were forced into those better Group 1’s and he was three-to-five lengths short of them, and we were running against the country’s best horses, and he wasn’t up to them at those distances.

“It was nice to get him back winning in a handicap at Flemington.

“I think he ran well to show us he’s in career best form and it makes a lot of sense in my opinion to have a go at the Caulfield Cup under handicap conditions.

“It’s not an easy race but I think he’s the right horse and the market will tell you that he’s somewhere in the race.”

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