Ad 6 Uncle Bryn (GB) ridden by Luke Currie wins the Winning Edge Presentations Paris Lane Stakes at Flemington. (George Sal/Racing Photos)

A look back on TAB Turnbull Stakes Day

5 October 2024 Written by Racing and Sports

Highlights of another eventful day of springtime racing at Flemington on TAB Turnbull Stakes Day.

Via Sistina shines to win Turnbull Stakes

After a below par effort at her Flemington debut a fortnight ago in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m), Via Sistina has bounced back to winning form and in the process provide the Chris Waller stable with a Group 1 quinella. 

Via Sistina was sent out a well-supported at her Melbourne debut but was comfortably held behind Mr Brightside and Pride Of Jenni.

However, the imported mare atoned with aplomb in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) after her stablemate Buckaroo had raced past and loomed as the winner. 

“We were confident that she would bounce back today, and she was tough,” Duckworth said of the seven-year-old mare ridden by Damian Lane.

“Buckaroo is the man on the scene at the moment and he was going for three wins in a row. He’s dug deep and only been narrowly denied. 

“It’s so fantastic for the whole team and for her to perform like that, it's pretty special for everyone involved with her, fantastic for Yulong because they really stump up every time and they've got an absolute diamond.” 

Keeneland a live Victoria Derby chance

Trent Busuttin has tasted Group 1 Penfolds Victoria Derby success before and he a training partner Natalie Young will be hoping to add another to their CV 13 years after the first with Keeneland after the gelding’s success in the Listed Super Impose Stakes (1800m).

Keeneland (NZ) ridden by John Allen wins the ABC Bullion Super Impose Stakes at Flemington. (George Sal/Racing Photos)

This race has provided a good guide to the Derby in recent times with the Super Impose-Derby double having been notched by Polanski (2014), Extra Brut (2018), Warning (2019), and most recently Riff Rocket in 2023.

Though happy with the win today, Natalie is hoping for better luck with the barrier draw come Derby Day than they have had in other Derby attempts since Sangster won for the stable in 2011.

“We seem to get to a Derby on a grand final and we seem to draw 18 or 19, and that's cost us the last few years,” Young said.

“But today he actually put everything together, soI just think he's on the up, and that's what you need, you know, heading towards a 2500-metre race in three or four weeks’ time”

Filly follows in good Flemington horses’ footsteps

The rain and wind provided a tough test for the three-year-old fillies with Oaks aspirations but it and it was a daughter of a previous winner her name to the honour roll with Too Darn Discreet’s victory in the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m).

Twice Dan O’Sullivan has won this race with So Gorgeous his first in 2002 and now again with Too Darn Discreet.

Maybe Discreet, Too Darn Discreet’s dam also won the race in 2012.

“All good Flemington horses, too,” O’Sullivan said of the trio.

“They are pretty big shoes to fill for those two mares too. 

“It was a great ride on the very trying circumstances for Mark. He was pretty keen to rode her (today) because he liked what he’d seen last start.

“He (Zahra) got that three-wide line and he was pretty keen to get on board her and get on to ride her because he liked what he'd seen last start and he's able to execute the job really strong, really perfectly today.”

Unsure whether Too Darn Discreet would progress to the VRC Oaks (2500m) next month, Too Darn Discreet would be looking to emulate last year’s Edward Manifold winner Zardozi who followed up in the Oaks of 2023.

Gai Waterhouse makes right move with two-year-old in Maribyrnong Trial

The decision by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott to send Tremonti to Melbourne produced an immediate result with the colt scoring at Flemington. 

Waterhouse and Bott have a strong team of two-year-olds and filled the placings in the Group 3 Breeders' Plate (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday and collected the prize in the first two-year-old race in Melbourne with Tremonti's win in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes (1000m) at Flemington. 

"I love the way when he was beaten, he just came again and showed such tenacity," Waterhouse said. 

"I love that with a horse, and perhaps drawing the right marble early in the week, Jye McNeil was smart enough to take advantage of gate one to just give him that guiderail. 

"It was a big help, especially with horses coming from interstate." 

Blowout brings up Busuttin and Young double

Uncle Bryn finished well out of the placings in the Turnbull Stakes last year but 12 months later, and second-up after 11 months away from the racetrack, the six-year-old saluted in at big odds in the Listed Paris Lane Stakes.

It was the culmination of pre-race confidence from Natalie Young which, for many punters, was not shared to the same extent.

“It's hard when there's older horses,” Young said.

“They've been off the scene a long time. Even walking around the yard today, he was so relaxed. 

“He's all dappled up (and) he looks super. We just really love this horse. 

“When you get a horse back from injury, it's just extremely rewarding. It’s fantastic to see him up like that.”

Price and Kent three-year-olds quinella three-year-old sprint

It was the almost perfect result for trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr when First Settler and Reserve Bank ran one-two in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m). 

Only a half-head separated the pair who are expected to clash again in four weeks' time in the Group 1 Coolmore Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day. 

“It's a pleasing result when you're working out a photo between your own two horses,” Kent Jnr said. 

“I’m rapt with the horses, they both ran up to expectation. They're both lovely, promising stud-type colts and both are very good.”

First Settler ridden by Michael Dee wins the Cirka Danehill Stakes at Flemington, (Scott Barbour/Racing Photos)

Tight finish sees Flemington performer score narrowly

Right To Party’s victory in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) notched a double not often completed as the tricky-to-manage mare also won the Listed Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) at Flemington in August.

The Lindsay Park-trained Arkansaw Kid looked the winner 150-metres from the line before the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained four-year-old stormed home to claim the win.

“We were a little disappointed the other day,” Sam said of the mare’s fourth placing in the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) at Flemington on September 14.

“We thought she was going well and probably the track condition was the reason for the performance, but you have to say, we've got a really good team of staff.

“Great farrier, a great vet, and to keep a horse up like this for a long period of time takes a lot of work. For everyone involved, it's a big thrill. 

“She raced through the winter, and I think to keep spacing her runs and for her to keep turning up and attacking the line like that, we've got ambitions to hopefully get her to a group one and hopefully it's down the straight.”

That next outing could be the Group 1 Champions Stakes also down the Flemington straight on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Right To Party also provided Jye McNeil with a riding double.

Revolutionary Miss lands Rose Of Kingston Stakes 

A change of scenery has renewed the racing career of Revolutionary Miss who registered her first win since joining the Ciaron Maher stable. 

After seven wins from 28 starts for Peter and Paul Snowden, including multiple wins in Stakes races, Revolutionary Miss was transferred to the Maher stable for her latest campaign and has now won three of her four starts at Flemington. 

After running a first-up third at Caulfield last month, Revolutionary Miss held off a late flurry to land the Group 2 Rose Of Kingston Stakes (1400m). 

Maher’s assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said the mare came into their care in excellent shape. 

“She probably came to Victoria six weeks ago from Sydney where Joe had a handle on her and she's returned really well,” Turnbull said. 

“Obviously Caulfield was fantastic next to A Little Deep, one of ours, and today she’s showed that again. 

“It's just very pleasing to see us get a few runs on the board for Triple Crown, new clients and hopefully we can go on into the spring.” 

The stable is eyeing the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) on Derby Day for the continually progressive five-year-old.

Now with Turnbull Stakes Day providing its spring pointers, the scene is set for the 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival kicking off with Penfolds Victoria Derby Day on November 2.

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