Winx is the main attraction at Flemington on Saturday when she lines up to make it back to back wins in the Group 1 $500,000 Seppelt Turnbull Stakes over 2000m.
The Chris Waller trained Winx won this race last year and another win this year will see the record breaking mare stretch her unbeaten winning run to twenty-eight as well as boosting her Group 1 wins to twenty-one.
The set weights plus penalties conditions of the Turnbull Stakes really favours Winx who only has to carry 57kg while the two times Group 1 winner Grunt has to lump the top weight of 58kg.
The Turnbull Stakes will be Winx’s final outing before she tries to rewrite the history books with a fourth straight win in the Group 1 $5m Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on October 27.
We have analysed every horse in the field and our 2018 Turnbull Stakes tips can be found below.
Grunt
Grunt heads back to his favourite track at Flemington where he has claimed two Group 1 trophies in the Australian Guineas during the 2018 Melbourne Autumn Carnival and the Makybe Diva Stakes two starts back. The Mick Price trained four year old flopped at Caulfield last start in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes but is expected to bounce back to his best on the bigger open spaces at Flemington. Grunt is badly weighted compared to Winx and it is hard to see him bothering her.
Winx
Winx is lining up for back to back wins in the Turnbull Stakes as well as her twenty-eighth straight victory and looks unbeatable again with only 57kg on her back. The Turnbull Stakes will be Winx’s third run back for the Spring after wins in the Winx Stakes and in the George Main Stakes and trainer Chris Waller said the he couldn’t fault her in any way.
Mighty Boss
Mighty Boss is a stablemate of Grunt and is struggling to find his Caulfield Guineas winning form with three unplaced runs this campaign. Hard to see the Not A Single Doubt four year old threatening the mighty Winx but he will get to stand next to her in the starting gates.
Kings Will Dream
Kings Will Dream hasn’t put in a bad run at three Spring Carnival outings which includes two Group 1 placings with a third in Memsie Stakes at Caulfield followed by a second in the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington. The Darren Weir trained English import is yet to win at Group 1 level but only has 0.5kg less than Winx in the Turnbull Stakes and will be struggling to get passed her but will be running on and has place claims.
Jon Snow
The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman trained Kiwi galloper Jon Snow ran his best race for a long time with a last start third in the Makybe Diva Stakes. The run was encouraging and he could figure in the placings again.
Divine Unicorn
The Mat Dunn trained Divine Unicorn has never raced at Group 1 level and will be outclassed in the Turnbull Stakes.
Trap For Fools
Trap For Fools is another runner who has never raced in Group 1 company but will be able to tell his stablemates that he competed against the mighty mare Winx.
Ventura Storm
The Lindsay Park Team has decide to put the blinkers back on Ventura Storm but the head gear would have to improve the European import ten lengths if he is to figure in the minor prizemoney.
Tally
Tally ran third in this race two years ago and could fill a place again coming off a first up- fifth over 1500m in the Shannon Stakes at Rosehill.
Youngstar
Winx’s stablemate Youngstar beat Tally home when third in Shannon Stakes and she is another who could be fighting out the minor placings.
