The Group 1 $750,000 TAB Turnbull Stakes (2000m) sees the first international competition for the spring as Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior is reunited with champion jockey James McDonald who has a host of key rides across the day.
West Wind Blows, prepared by British father and son Simon and Ed Crisford, will also tackle some of Australia’s best middle-distance horses including reigning Lexus Melbourne Cup hero Gold Trip, his stablemate and the defending TAB Turnbull Stakes champion Smokin' Romans, and Group 1 winners Lindermann, Montefilia, Alenquer, El Bodegon and Hinged.
Gold Trip last year finished fifth in the TAB Turnbull Stakes before his success on the first Tuesday in November, while the previous year Verry Elleegant was fourth before her runaway Cup triumph in 2021.
A golden ticket, offering a guaranteed spot in the Lexus Melbourne Cup, is up for grabs in the Group 3 $500,000 The Lexus Bart Cummings (2510m). Last year’s Cup third High Emocean will attempt to secure her place in this year’s race that stops the nation but faces tough opposition from up-and-coming stayers like the Flemington-trained First Immortal and Carini.
It is not just Lexus Melbourne Cup contenders who will emerge on Saturday, though, with races like the Group 2 HQ Tavern Danehill Stakes (1100m), Group 2 TAB Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m), Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) and Group 2 Rose of Kingston Stakes (1400m) set to produce leading Cup Week candidates.
Race 2 on the card, the Darley Maribyrnong Trial Stakes (1000m) will see the first two-year-olds step out onto the track for the first time this season.
The last five races on the card will be hosted as World Pool events, meaning that punters from right across the globe - across six continents - will be able to wager into a commingled totalisator pool, offering greater liquidity and exciting opportunities.
VRC Chief Executive Officer Steve Rosich said TAB Turnbull Stakes Day offers a taste of this year’s exceptional Melbourne Cup Carnival.
“TAB Turnbull Stakes Day marks that annual shift from footy season to racing season and it provides the perfect springboard towards the Melbourne Cup Carnival,” Mr Rosich said.
“It is a significant Flemington race day with more than $3 million in prizemoney featuring an exceptional Group 1 race and a golden ticket on offer through The Lexus Bart Cummings. It offers a timely opportunity to discover form at Headquarters in time for the greatest week on the Australian racing calendar. For racegoers, it is a small glimpse at what awaits during the Melbourne Cup Carnival - both on and off the track.
“We are thrilled to welcome international competition to the Turnbull Stakes for the first time in more than 20 years. It is exciting to see how the global form lines of Romantic Warrior and West Wind Blows will measure up down under and we cannot wait to see the horses and their connections trackside on Saturday.