Flemington's Turnbull Stakes faces tricky track conditions

The Turnbull Stakes is a crucial event for the future spring campaigns of numerous participants.

Adding to the complexity of this Group 1 2000m race, held under set weights and penalties at Flemington, is the heavy track forecast.

The Flemington track was recorded as a Heavy 9 on Friday morning, following 52mm of rain, with showers predicted to continue throughout the day and into Saturday.

While this might diminish the prospects of some, leading market contenders such as Sir Delius and Aeliana are known for their proficiency on wet surfaces.

Sir Delius remains undefeated in two attempts on heavy tracks, while Aeliana followed her former stablemate Via Sistina home when resuming in the 2025 Winx Stakes, her single outing on a heavy track.

Aeliana does, however, possess strong credentials on soft ground, having won four times from six starts, with a second placing also to her name.

Her most recent victories on soft tracks occurred in the Ranvet Stakes and Tancred Stakes at Rosehill earlier in the year.

Trainer Chris Waller indicated that following two runs this campaign, Aeliana was regaining her best form, though further progress was anticipated leading up to the Cox Plate (2000m) at Flemington on October 24.

He observed that Aeliana's coat was finally starting to improve.

"She was much better the other day," Waller said. "She looked like she is ready to peak and hold her form. "I'm keen to run her here despite it being a set weights and penalties race because she gets three weeks to get ready for the Cox Plate."

Aeliana will be joined by Caulfield Cup hopefuls Asterix and Ohope Wins, alongside last year's Cox Plate runner-up, Buckaroo.

Soul Of Spain, another runner prepared by Waller, has been scratched and will instead contest The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick.

"Asterix, he's just going really well," Waller stated. "He can get to the Caulfield Cup through this race while Buckaroo gets in with 55 (kilos) which is a good weight."

Waller anticipates an improved performance from Ohope Wins with the step up in distance, given her most recent run was in the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) on September 12.

"First-up it was a 1700-metre handicap and was too short," Waller explained. "She's never run over shorter than 2000 (metres) before, but she ran well the other day in the Makybe Diva."

The Turnbull Stakes promises an intriguing contest, with racing betting markets sure to be active.