Super star race mare Winx plus eleven others are among the nominations for the Group 1 $500,000 Seppelt Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Winx, above, heads up the nominations for the 2017 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington. Photo by Steve Hart.

Winx, above, heads up the nominations for the 2017 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington. Photo by Steve Hart.

The Victoria Racing Club extended the entry deadline for the Turnbull Stakes until 10am on Tuesday, October 3 hoping to boost the numbers for the race that is run under Set Weights and penalties conditions.

The Chris Waller trainer Winx will be chasing her twenty-first win in a row in the Turnbull Stakes which will be her final lead up to the Group 1 $3m Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on October 28.

Winx is the winner of the last two running of the Cox Plate and a third successive victory in the ‘Weight For Age Championship Of Australasia’ will see her equal the legendary Kingston Town’s record of three wins in 1980, 1981 and 1982.

Winx has kept her winning momentum going with three wins at Randwick during the 2017 Spring Carnival in the Group 2 $250,000 Warwick Stakes (1400m), in the Group 2 $250,000 Tattersalls Club Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) and in the Group 1 $500,000 Colgate Optic White Stakes (George Main Stakes) (1600m).

Leading Victorian trainer Darren Weir has one nomination in the Turnbull Stakes, Humidor, who returned to the winner’s stall with victory in the Group 1 $750,000 PFD Food Services Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 16.

The powerful Lindsay Park Team have entered last start winner Harlem and Ventura Storm for the Turnbull Stakes.

Harlem also returned to the winner’s list last start in the Group 3 $150,000 Bendigo Bank East Malvern MRC Foundation Cup (Naturalism Stakes) (2000m) at Caulfield on September 23 while Ventura Storm finished mid field last start when sixth in the Makybe Diva Stakes.

Trainer Robert Hickmott has nominated four horses for the Turnbull Stakes, Amralah, Assign, Gallante and Sir Isaac Newton.

As expected Winx dominates the early betting for Turnbull Stakes and is the $1.20 favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of Humidor at $5.50 and Harlem at $13.

Early market order for the 2017 Turnbull Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $1.20 Winx, $5.50 Humidor, $13 Harlem, $31 Abbey Marie, $34 Sir Isaac Newton, Ventura Storm, $41 Tally, $51 Amralah, $81 Gallante, $101 Assign, $401 Magicool, Skyfire.

Nominations for the 2017 Turnbull Stakes (2000m)

# Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Ballot Weight Hcp Rating
1 1x1111x111 WINX M 6 Chris Waller 1 57kg 132
2 x42212x681 HUMIDOR (NZ) G 5 Darren Weir 2 59kg 114
3 x37710x247 TALLY G 5 James Cummings 3 56.5kg 105
4 01121x5x76 VENTURA STORM (IRE) H 5 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 4 56.5kg 106
5 x9210x71x0 ASSIGN (IRE) G 7 Robert Hickmott 5 56.5kg 104
6 384x386x51 HARLEM (GB) H 6 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 6 55kg 103
7 x031x270x0 GALLANTE (IRE) G 7 Robert Hickmott 7 54.5kg 101
8 0x0x770x00 MAGICOOL G 6 Tony Romeo 8 54.5kg 84
9 14407x5x86 SIR ISAAC NEWTON (GB) G 6 Robert Hickmott 9 54.5kg 104
10 0x0D71x000 AMRALAH (IRE) H 8 Robert Hickmott 10 54.5kg 101
11 1x8400x725 ABBEY MARIE M 5 Michael Kent 11 52.5kg 102
12 4113345×75 SKYFIRE G 6 Amy Johnston 12 54.5kg 61

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.