3 minute read
The fork in the road race is the Turnbull Stakes run at Flemington on Saturday.
Winx was a dual winner and we know where she went after that. Is the 2021 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday a Cox Plate or Cups guide?
2021 Turnbull Stakes: Nominations
2021 TURNBULL STAKES - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
The Turnbull Stakes is a Group 1 race run under Set Weights and Penalty conditions for open class horses at Flemington conducted by the Victoria Racing Club.
The Turnbull Stakes is run over 2000m. It was first run in 1865 and was won by The Sign.
The Turnbull Stakes was known under various names until 1948 then was renamed after the Chairman of the VRC.
It was as much as a two mile race in the 1800s and as short as one mile between the wars. From 1971 onwards it was at the 2000m.
The Turnbull Stakes was a Principal Race until graded at Group 2 then is now rated a Group 1.
There was a delay to that because of the issue of Set Weights and Penalty conditions however that was overlooked from 2010 onwards.
Hartnell beat the subsequent Caulfield Cup winner Jameka by over three lengths and then himself was beaten eight lengths to Winx in the Cox Plate.
It wasn't a race for northern trained horses until recently. Verry Elleegant ('20), Kings Will Dream ('19), Winx ('18 & '17), Hartnell ('16), Preferment ('15), Lucia Valentina ('14) joined Studebaker ('03), Fairway ('00) & All Our Mob ('95) as the only NSW trained winners in 30 years.
Kings Will Dream broke his pelvis in Winx last Cox Plate win and less than 12 months later he won the Turnbull. Chris Waller then trained the trifecta in 2020.
Feature Cups form has a very good record here, especially the Caulfield Cup. Verry Elleegant would win a classic Caulfield Cup in 2020 after winning at Flemington.
Four times in the last decade has the Caulfield Cup winner run in the Turnbull.
Twice in the last decade has the Cox Plate winner run in the Turnbull.
Three times in the last decade has the Melbourne Cup winner run in the Turnbull.
The Turnbull Stakes was worth $1,000,000 in 2021.
Notable winners of the Turnbull Stakes include Verry Elleegant (2020), Winx (2017/2018), Hartnell (2016), Preferment (2015), Green Moon (2012), Zipping (2010), Efficient (2009), Makybe Diva (2005), Elvstroem (2004), Northerly (2002), Sunline (2001), Doriemus (1996), Naturalism (1992), Let's Elope (1991), Better Loosen Up (1990), Super Impose (1989), Vo Rogue (1987/1988), Dulcify (1979), Leilani (1974), Galilee (1968), Tobin Bronze (1966), Aquanita (1962), Redcraze (1955), Rising Fast (1954), Comic Court (1949/1950), Bernborough (1946), Ajax (1938/1940), Hall Mark (1934), Amounis (1930), Manfred (1926), Wakeful (1903) and The Barb (1868).
The 2020 Turnbull Stakes was won by Verry Elleegant from Toffee Tongue and Finche.
