Via Sistina wins Group 1 TAB Turnbull Stakes in epic contest

The in-form mare held out stablemate Buckaroo ridden by Joao Moreira, with Eliyass in third for Ethan Brown, Gai Waterhouse AO and Adrian Bott. All three horses hold an entry for the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup. 

Tabcorp Chief Executive Gillon McLachlan was on-course to present the trophy for the TAB Turnbull Stakes to winning connections. 

The race day has traditionally proved to be the perfect stepping-stone for horses on their way to Melbourne Cup Carnival success and that could be the case for Just Fine who won the Group 3 $500,000 The Lexus Bart Cummings (2520m). 

Given a brilliant front-running ride by Jordan Childs, the Irish-bred gelding has secured his place in this year’s Lexus Melbourne Cup for the first lady of racing Gai Waterhouse and training partner Adrian Bott thanks to the ballot exemption offered to the winner of The Lexus Bart Cummings. 

The undercard provided thrills for racing fans with Mick Price and Michael Kent Junior training the winning quinella in the Group 2 Cirka Danehill Stakes (1100m), with First Settler ridden by Michael Dee just beating stablemate Reserve Bank and Luke Currie. Right To Party won the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) in a very tight finish for Anthony and Sam Freedman and Jye McNeil. Revolutionary Miss won the Group 2 Furphy Rose of Kingston Stakes (1400m) for Ciaron Maher and Mark Zahra. 

Off the track, people delighted in the assortment on activities on offer in the Spring Social Club including the popular sport of pickleball which was a smash hit with racegoers. 

Victoria Racing Club (VRC) Pin & Win Ambassador and 3AW Breakfast Host Ross Stevenson was among those on-course enjoying the racing action, with racegoers supporting the charity partner Ronald McDonald House Charities VIC & TAS by purchasing 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup lapel pins. So far more than $80,000 has been raised for the VRC’s 2024 Pin & Win Charity partner. 

Special guests spending their day trackside included Hawthorn triple-premiership player Jack Gunston and former teammate Liam Shiels, Richmond two-time premiership player Tom Lynch, retired ODI and T20 Australian Cricket Captain Aaron Finch, and VRC Ambassador and former Fashions on the Field winner Crystal Kimber-Peters. 

VRC Chief Executive Officer Kylie Rogers said the race day was the perfect preview of what to expect at the upcoming Melbourne Cup Carnival. 

“TAB Turnbull Stakes Day had it all, ten exhilarating and super competitive races, family fun at the spring social club, and a strong crowd who made the most of everything Flemington has to offer,” Ms Rogers said.  

“Congratulations to master trainer Chris Waller on his sixth TAB Turnbull Stakes win this decade, it was an impressive feat to quinella the feature Group 1 with Via Sistina and Buckaroo who we hope to see back at Flemington during Cup Week.”  

The next race day at Flemington will be Penfolds Victoria Derby Day on Saturday 2 November kickstarting the 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival.