Turnbull Stakes Day will be held at Flemington on Saturday with an action-packed 10-race card. A big field is set to compete in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes, while five other Group races will be run, including The Bart Cummings which grants the winner automatic entry into the Melbourne Cup.
The rail will be out nine metres for the entire circuit. Wet track form will come into calculations for the day as they are going to be racing on a Heavy surface.
Our best bets of the day and Quaddie selections for Flemington are below!
Flemington Racing Tips: Saturday, October 3rd 2026
Race 1: Darley Maribyrnong Trial Stakes 1000m – 12:25pm AEST
(4) Silent Intent has won both jump outs leading into this race where every single two-year-old is on debut. He won the latest down the Flemington straight by about three lengths. I am not confident leaning any way in this race though as there will be plenty of improvement on race day for some of these horses.
No Bet
Race 2: TAB ONE POOL 1200m – 12:55pm AEST
(12) Charming Nic has started his campaign in good order, running second on the Ballarat synthetic before winning a Benchmark 70 Handicap at the same circuit by three lengths. He will settle further back in this event, but looks a good price, so I am happy to back him each-way in a competitive race.
(13) Esmahli returned with a second behind Cabriole who has already been scratched from this race. The gelding won at Rosehill Gardens back in January on a Heavy track. The extra 200m trip is suitable and he should run a good race.
(12) Charming Nic E/W
$8.50/$3.00 (1U/2U)
Race 3: Howden Super Impose Stakes 1800m – 1:30pm AEST
(4) Aragog should press forward from the wide gate as Lachlan Neindorf retains the ride. The pair finished second in the Listed Exford Plate won by Lara Antipova. The winner and third-placed Somethings Burnin’ have both run well in the Stutt Stakes since. Aragog looked like he could find further in that runner-up performance as he was finding the line late. If he settles close to the speed with cover, he could be dangerous at nice odds.
(2) Leopolo is unbeaten from two runs, the latest coming over 1500m as he drew away to win by 3.5 lengths at Sandown-Hillside beating Cignetti who lines up here. There should be more wins in store for this colt and if he doesn’t get too far back in the run, he will be dangerous.
(4) Aragog E/W
$8.50/$2.80 (1U/2U)
Race 4: TAB ONE POOL Edward Manifold Stakes 1600m – 2:05pm AEST
(3) Profligate finished third in the Thousand Guineas Prelude, doing her best work late, along with Portinari who was a bit luckless during the run. Profligate’s second-up run was much better than the first-up run, so with two runs under the belt, she should be ready to win. It is likely she will be in the second half of the field, but she should run a bold race if she handles the heavy conditions which she is untested in.
(5) Portinari was finishing well in the Thousand Guineas Prelude, so the extra trip to the mile should be suitable for the filly that likes to get back and run home strongly. The wide gate won’t be a concern with her racing pattern. She is still trying to break her maiden and this may be the race where she does it.
(3) Profligate WIN
$4.40 (1.5 Units)
Race 5: Cirka Rose of Kingston Stakes 1400m – 2:40pm AEST
(7) Gold Coast Belle was dominant first-up from a spell on a Heavy track, defeating Tennessee Bound by 2.25 lengths at Sandown-Hillside. She then finished seventh as a $2.10 favourite in the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes at Flemington. Happy to forgive one poor run and go off her previous form which saw her win four races in a row. She probably won’t lead here which should help, especially if she can settle third or fourth in the run.
(14) Tennessee Bound won her first six races before a pair of seconds, once against Gold Coast Belle, and the latest in the Group 3 Chautauqua Stakes won by Warnie. Her consistency has been remarkable so far and there’s no reason she can’t finish in the top three.
(7) Gold Coast Belle WIN
$3.00 (2 Units)
Race 6: Asahi Super Dry Danehill Stakes 1100m – 3:15pm AEST
(10) Natural Fling is the class runner of the field, running second in the $1 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic which was won by The Next Episode. She then won the Group 3 Quezette Stakes and was third in the Group 1 Moir Stakes. She had a nice jump out down the Flemington straight which will have done her the world of good. She looks very well placed in this event.
(3) The Next Episode is first-up from a spell, last seen beating Natural Fling in the Magic Millions event. I am not sure what to make of his jump out when a distant third behind Natural Fling, but his talent is obvious, so looks a huge threat.
(10) Natural Fling WIN
$2.30 (3 Units)
Race 7: The Lexus Bart Cummings 2520m – 3:50pm AEST
(10) Piggyback has been racing in Sydney, finishing seventh in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes and ninth in the Group 2 Kingston Town Stakes over 2000m. She was an honest effort in the latter and I think she should be an improver here. She has raced once at Flemington over 2500m, finishing fourth. That was two years ago though. Heavy tracks are suitable with two wins from five starts, so that should work in her favour.
(1) Wootton Verni comes out of the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes where he finished fifth behind Zahrann. That was an improvement compared to the first two runs this prep, and there may be further improvement here. Looks a winning chance in an open race.
(10) Piggyback E/W
$7.50/$2.80 (1U/2U)
Race 8: TAB Turnbull Stakes 2000m – 4:25pm AEST
(2) Sir Delius captured this race 12 months ago and looks set to defend the crown second-up from a spell. He won the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes during the autumn, being the only horse to defeat superstar Autumn Glow in that event. At his first run back in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes, he ran a solid fourth behind Sheza Alibi. He loves this distance and the wet track is perfect – so many things to like about his chances in this race.
(11) Buckaroo has finished fifth in both runs this prep, the Memsie Stakes and Underwood Stakes at Group 1 level. He should appreciate just 55kg in the race and I think he can run a cheeky race if he doesn’t get too far back in the run.
Also backing: (11) Buckaroo WIN $15 (0.5 Units)
(2) Sir Delius WIN
$2.80 (2 Units)
Race 9: Gilgai Stakes 1200m – 5:05pm AEST
(4) Hedged should be in the thick of things, racing up on the speed with Blake Shinn retaining the ride after the pair finished second in the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality over course and distance. He was in front too early and Losesomewinmore came up the inside to win by a half-length. Hedged will be fitter and looks to have strong claims.
(15) Skybird contested the Group 1 Moir Stakes last start where she ran sixth, beaten 3.25 lengths. She has been runner up on a heavy track over course and distance, so I don’t expect any excuses here. She will go close.
(4) Hedged WIN
$7.00 (1 Unit)
Race 10: HKJC World Pool Paris Lane Stakes 1400m – 5:40pm AEST
(11) Ten Commandments has had a lengthy campaign, winning four times from seven starts, including the Gold Nugget at Ballarat last start. The seven-year-old gelding is my top pick in the race, but this looks a raffle. A case can be made for a lot of these runners and I would rather let them go around without a suggestion. Steparty is worth consideration at odds if you felt inclined, but he is first-up from a spell, although he has won twice from six when fresh.
No Bet
