Almanac Racing: Turnbull Stakes 2010

This is one of the great racing weekends on the Australian Calendar.

We’ll be flicking between Randwick and the MCG on Saturday to keep abreast of Sydney’s classic card, including four Group Ones amongst a litany of race names that resonate with turf followers…The Gimcrack, Craven Plate, Roman Consul, Flight Stakes, Spring Champion Stakes, Metrop, The Shorts…

The Epsom, nominally the feature, may be rated as lacking glamour, but it is still a tough, competitive Handicap mile. I’m a Trusting (5) fan, but he has only won twice and will probably be favourite due to his weight reprieve. There are bolters galore to spec here so I’ll kick off with Dealer Principal or even goofy-headed Leica Larrikin at cricket-score odds.

Even Sydneysiders will get to the track this week, as local champ Hot Danish (R9, No5), odds on for sure, has a great following and hopefully delivers for the masses. Watch, hope and enjoy.

Snowden’s shorty, Shammara (R10, No10) looks the last winner so maybe an all-up might get some late bikkies?

Great racing if you are over the AFL. Worth reviewing if you miss it.

No excuses, though, for not giving full attention to the rescheduled Flemington meeting on Sunday. Sure, there may be obstacles – post GF, daylight saving readjustment, cricket practices for us – but none of these are admissible excuses for ignoring this superb day; the weather and fields have conspired to offer the best Flemington experience of the season.

Thank God the Turnbull has been upgraded to Group One in recent years as it puts many others in the shade. This looks one of the best in memory and, despite, or because of, So You Think, Whobe and More Joyous being back in their boxes, the depth of this year’s challengers looks to be on display here. It does my head in trying to assess this race. Emergencies Moudre and Valdemoro will be desperate to run and succeed to enhance their chances of making the Caulfield Cup field. If I stick to the “horses for courses” mantra espoused on this site after this meeting last year, then Shocking and Faint Perfume (cumulatively 7 from 7) must be the ones. But I also rate Vigor 2 lengths better at HQ. Speed Gifted, too, is here or nowhere. And it is impossible to ignore the WFA qualifications of Shoot Out, which look perfect for this track and distance, Metal Bender and Typhoon Tracy. A fantastic conundrum. Watch for Cups runs from Dariana, Zipping and others. An impossibly wonderful race. I’m an unabashed Faint Perfume fan so will select her in front of Shoot Out and Vigor. Can’t wait.

My weekend diary includes swinging the bag at Moonee Valley Friday night, utilizing Budge’s split screen on Saturday but, most excitedly, getting to wander the expanses at Flemington on Sunday. The next meetings here are Cup Week with its crowd atrocities so, with the sunny forecast and premium racing, I expect opportunists to get there and visit the stalls and see the horseflesh (hopes are high for exposed flesh elsewhere also!) that will dominate the previews to the BIG ONES.

They’ll be several deep to see old drawcard Weekend Hussler who returns again in the Gilgai. I just wish he gets through the race OK and has a chance to show his wares later in Spring. He’ll get windburn from Haylist, the latest boom Aussie sprinter, who, despite no exposure to the straight and a cramped quote, is impossible to punt against. Punters are converted – he went up “unders” last Friday night and they just launched regardless. The only “watch” for me is Bank Robber at odds, but I’m riding the “A”-list bandwagon. Get there and see him. He might yet be the best of a decorated honourboard of WA sprinters – something for a future crio’s Q!

Despite other commitments we’ll try to get there by R5, the Gr2 Mares race and I’m keen to see if Irish Lights can reignite her early promise. No Evidence Needed and Lady Lynette will be amongst those favoured and watch for Acquired if she gets a run…these mares races are terrific over the next month or so.

I’m tentatively forgiving Ringa Ringa Rosie (R6, N02) her flop last start. The Edward Manifold is make or break for her and I’m in her camp.

Let’s hope there is a great atmosphere at Flemington on Saturday. This meeting deserves a big crowd and will be a pointer to the “Carnival” days ahead. Any tips welcomed and, if you are going, let’s catch up and enjoy the best that Melbourne racing has to offer.

Comments

  1. Crio,
    Frightening that I also pencilled in Dealer Principal and Leica Larrikin as my value priced bets in the Epsom. I guess theres 2 we can now draw a line through!

    I am very keen to see Shoot Out at Flemington. Always liked him at Randwick where he improved considerably and expect the same here. Last run was OK and previous form outstanding. Only Shocking with his magnificent record at Headquarters could potetnially eclipse Shoot Out. Apologies to Faint Perfume, who I love, but she’s up against the big fellas here rather than her own sex so perfer to see.

    The mares race (5) is a cracker. Watch for Palacio de Cristal’s huge finish – back to mares class and Flemington should suit. Others for the multiples include Majestic Music, No Evidence Needed (not sure about barrier 1) and Small Minds (barrier 20 won’t make much diff- except the price). I am well and truly off what was the Irish Lights band-waggon, last seen abandoned on the side of the road.

    Happy punting!

  2. What about Dysphonia in R5?

  3. mark freeman says

    Make that absolutely no hope for Leica – I snapped up the $34 on Weds night. Clearly can’t win now with three of us weighing the Larrikan down.

    My other for the great card at Headquarters is G. Eurell’s Pinker Pinker in the Edward Manifold. Huge run at Heath last start, shades go on. Is $17 on tote fixed at minute, but IASbet has her come in from 21 to 15. I reckon she’ll start b/w 10 and 12 Sunday. Expecting very big run.

    Good punting.

  4. Crio,

    What a tough weekend on the punt. I could be walking around lucky or not. I will be guided by my wine consumption and associated confidence and available fun tickets.

    At this point of pre influence, I like:

    EPSOM – TRUSTING, CAPTAIN SONADOR and FIREBOLT
    SHORTS – TICKETS
    THE LAST (ANGST) – ABSOLUTE FAITH

    FLEMINGTON:

    Note: Ringa Ringa Rosie is by Bradburys Luck. Nursery Rhyme says “They all fall down”

    I am sticking with Metal Bender. He seems more robust than the rest. Shoot Out won the Bletchingly first up. Sorry.
    Vigor rarely wins, Speed Gifted, fragile, Typhoon Tracey, can she stay, doubt it, Zabrasive, J O’Shea is a big mouth, Faint Perfume, no scent of form this prep. Have I offended everyone?

    Love the Hussler to win and he can. The more you look at the rest of them, the more inferior they get. Three quarters right he at least runs second to Hay list.

    That’s it. I’m exhausted even thinking about the racing and football ahead.

  5. Just home from Valley nights!
    What about the Winning Post spruiking the Cox Plate match race between So you Think and More Joyous…good Sydney hype that.Whobe has to be some show? As the world-weary baggy behind me tonight surmised – So You think will tow Gai’s thing! I love the mare but we had a good laugh talking about what hyperbole Gai would use if she had Bart’s ammo!

  6. btw..Olly is back riding really well and the heat seems lower. He might be worth following.
    Elvis…another great name. Keep the powder dry.
    Freezer…Harmsy and I are ready to help tou and Mick reprise the 2009 Guineas chaos. see you there next Saturday!

  7. Elvis – great pick up on Ringa Ringa Rosie’s name. She is a big chance tomorrow and I’m warming to Sistine Angel.

  8. Crio/Budge

    Cannonball is appealing to me more and more. Ran fav in the HK Sprint behind Sacred Kingdom and Apache Cat. Stwds report states he was not fully tested in straight with limited room and over raced. Has blinkers first time and I reckon Gai has won one or two of these Randwick miles before with an American import. B Spriggs has been on fire of late too, I’m thinking.

    Backing Nothin Leica Cat in the 3rd.

  9. As I said to Budge – “Gai rates it highly”… a bit like Oliver Reed recommending a pub!

  10. Panipique and precious lorraine in the manifold

  11. Why Precious Lorraine?

  12. Got home well from way back at flemington last prep and i said to myself may measure up in the spring and chicken legs is staying with her

  13. Also perturbo in the gilgai, hay list is not much value up the straight 1st time

    struggling with the turnball, trying to find the a- who is set for this or the blowout as always latley with this meeting the rail out 9 it can throw up a result.

  14. Fair call but after seeing Haylist I’m staying away from betting for or against.
    A Turnbull blowout l;ooks unlikely to me as the main candidates are fantastic…what a race!

  15. Zipping was the sort of horse and didn’t ‘see him’ until they loaded him know what i mean
    Still going to follow precious lorraine maybe looking for the wakeful
    and as statesd with the rail out at hq sometimes luck is a fortune

  16. Don’t tell elvis,Saintly,but once I saw Shoot Out’s sheen i had to cak him…and he just didn’t ping.The Saintly colours did not fire as Faint Perfume was very dour. Tough race to rate. Shocking was vvvgood.
    It was worth whatever I lost today to see Haylist.

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