The 2014 Turnbull Stakes is set to feature a capacity field after 28 horses were included in the nominations for the Group 1 event that will be held at Flemington on Saturday.

Happy Trails will defend his Turnbull Stakes title in the Group 1 event at Flemington this afternoon. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

The Macedon Lodge team of Lloyd Williams won the 2012 edition of the Turnbull Stakes with Green Moon and they have included Green Moon, Sea Moon, Foundry and Thought Worthy in the nominations that were released this afternoon.

Foundry has failed to fire in his three race starts since returning to the races in August and Thought Worthy failed to beat home a single runner in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on September 20, while Green Moon ran home strongly to finish a credible sixth in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 13.

Sea Moon has not been seen at the races since he finished at the tail of the field in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) during the autumn and he has also been included in the nominations for the Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2520m).

Another trainer that could have multiple runners in the Turnbull Stakes field is Chris Waller, who has included sixhorses in the nominations for the $500,000 race.

Royal Descent is expected to remain in Sydney to contest the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday along with Junoob, who will run in the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) and Sacred Falls is expected to be saved for the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on October 11, but Chelmsford Stakes winner Hawkspur, tough stayer Who Shot Thebarman and triple Group 1 winner Foreteller are set to contest the feature race at Flemington this weekend.

David Hayes and Tom Dabernig-trained Spillway is set to make the trip to Sydney for The Metropolitan (2400m), with connections desperate to earn a start in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m), but the in-form stable is likely to be represented by Crackerjack King and Stipulate.

Happy Trails scored a narrow victory over Puissance De Lune in the 2013 edition of the Turnbull Stakes and they are both set to run in the race again on Saturday, while Kiwi mare Silent Achiever and Group 1 winner Super Cool are also set to run in the Turnbull Stakes for the second year in a row.

The Turnbull Stakes (2000m) is always a key form guide to the Caulfield Cup and the likes of Brambles, Entirely Platinum, Gris Caro, Kingdoms, Let’s Make Adeal, Lidari, Lucia Valentina and Sertorius are all set to head to the Melbourne Racing Club’s biggest race after running in the Turnbull Stakes on Saturday.

The 2014 Turnbull Stakes field and barrier draw will be released on Wednesday morning.