A 14-horse field has been confirmed for the Oct. 4 Turnbull Stakes (G1) at Flemington Racecourse, with 2024 winner Via Sistina and Underwood Stakes (G1) victor Sir Delius having been handed polar opposite barriers. Via Sistina and James McDonald will attempt to become the first Turnbull winners from barrier 1 since Northerly in 2002, while Sir Delius and Craig Williams will need to work across from the outside gate of 14. Prominent draws also include Aeliana (post 5), Half Yours (4) and Antino (6), while Adelaide River jumps from 9.
Waller is confident his star mares Via Sistina and Aeliana can rebound from their Makybe Diva Stakes (G1) runs when they meet again in the Turnbull. The pair will have their third clash of the campaign in the AU$750,000 contest.
"They both had a gallop on Saturday morning at Flemington and both were perfect," Waller said. "James (McDonald) is going to ride Via and Damian (Lane) will ride Aeliana. It's quite likely they will run together."
The mares first faced off this preparation in the Winx Stakes (G1) at Randwick, where Via Sistina successfully defended her crown, before Aeliana finished second and Via Sistina third behind Mr Brightside in the Makybe Diva. Via Sistina will bid to secure successive Turnbull Stakes victories, having bounced back from a similar setback in the Makybe Diva last year to narrowly defeat stablemate Buckaroo in the Flemington feature.
Waller also has last year's Eclipse champion grass mare Moira (post 11), who is still looking for her first win since the 2024 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T), and should appreciate the extra distance of the 2,000-meter (about 1 1/4-mile) Turnbull.
Melbourne Cup (G1) equal favorite Sir Delius will have his first look at Flemington in the Turnbull, a key stop in his preparation towards Australia's greatest race. The Underwood Stakes winner rallied strongly at Caulfield Racecourse last start to extend his Australian record to two wins and a narrow second from three runs, but co-trainer Adrian Bott admitted the import didn't appear completely comfortable around the tighter circuit.
"He seems in really good shape," Bott told Racing.com. "We kept the Turnbull open as an option, we wanted to give him a good look around at Flemington obviously with the main aim being the (Melbourne) Cup. He was good around Caulfield but he struggled a little around the track there, he didn't seem completely at home so it was a great effort to win and pick himself up the way he did. It will be good to give him that experience around Flemington."
Drawn widest in barrier 14, Sir Delius was rated a $5 chance for the Turnbull Oct. 2, behind Via Sistina ($2.45) and stablemate Aeliana ($4.50). In the betting for the Cox Plate (G1) he sits on the second line behind Via Sistina.
"He's been consistent through the campaign and what we've seen from him, but he's got amazing tenacity and was able to pick himself up and that's going to take him so far this campaign," Bott added. "Everything is done with the Melbourne Cup in mind, so the next two races are going to be tough for him, which we know of and are aware of. I think that's the right path to be giving him that conditioning, the right races, the tough runs, the experience, the timing—it's all with the Cup in mind."
Vauban out to bounce back in The Metropolitan
Co-trainer Bott believes Vauban can rebound from his below-par Kingston Town Stakes (G3) run when he lines up in The Metropolitan (G1) at Randwick Racecourse Saturday. The gelding carries top weight of 58.5 kilograms (about 129 pounds) in the handicap, his third run this campaign after finishing a pleasing third first-up in the Chelmsford Stakes (G2) before a flat sixth in the Kingston Town. Stablemate Sir Delius, who beat him home in the Chelmsford, franked the form with his Underwood win, and Bott is confident Vauban can strike back over a more suitable 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles).
"He's training really well," Bott, who trains in partnership with Gai Waterhouse, told Racing.com. "Naturally I was disappointed with his last run, purely based off how well I felt he was going. That was the first blemish this prep, but I think there were a few excuses. He might have just raced flat second-up, and getting to 2,400 meters is more his trip. He's got to carry the weight but he's drawn well and he's a class horse."
The Metropolitan serves as a key spring steppingstone, with the Caulfield Cup (G1) and Melbourne Cup the gelding's ultimate aims.
Portelli confident Queen Of Clubs can capitalize in Flight Stakes
A low draw has boosted Gary Portelli's confidence that Queen of Clubs can turn the tables on her Tea Rose Stakes (G2) conqueror Apocalyptic when the pair clash again in Saturday's Flight Stakes (G1) at Randwick. The Maurice filly finished strongly for fourth in the Tea Rose after being forced back to last from a wide gate, but barrier 4 Saturday presents a far kinder scenario.
"We knew when the barrier draw came out we were no hope of winning the Tea Rose, so we just hoped to see her hit the line like she did," Portelli said. "She passed everything we wanted to see. I think she's got second and third covered. The winner's the benchmark, but barriers win races and if she can be handier early, she'll be in the fight."
A Rosehill winner over 1,400 meters (about 7 furlongs) in June, Queen of Clubs has built steadily towards the spring, flashing home for third in the Silver Shadow Stakes (G2) before her Tea Rose effort. Portelli says the 1,600-meter (about 1-mile) Flight Stakes trip is exactly what she has been crying out for.
"She's by a stallion who produces milers and 2,000-meter horses, so the step up is ideal," he said. "She's flying and her gallop on Tuesday was fantastic."
Willydoit ready for Epsom challenge
Last season's New Zealand Derby (G1) winner Willydoit returns to the big stage Saturday, lining up in the Epsom Handicap (G1) at Randwick for trainer Ciaron Maher, with jockey Tommy Berry confident the gelding is ready to stamp himself at the elite mile level.
While his Derby success underscored his staying ability, Berry believes the son of Tarzino has developed into a sharper type, his genuine mile credentials on display when rapidly closing for eighth in the 1,400-meter Tramway Stakes (G2) last start.
"It (his Tramway run) was no surprise to the stable," Berry told TABRadio. "Even though he has won a Derby, which horses can do at 3 and come back a little bit sharper at 4, he had given the stable the indication he was a mile to 2,000-meter horse. He was quite sharp and running good times. Another 200 meters first-up and he probably comes out and wins. The step up to a mile with a month between runs and a trial looks like it will suit him perfectly."
Drawn in barrier 2 with 53 kilograms (about 117 pounds), Berry expects Willydoit to be ridden more positively than in previous campaigns.
"He's always had to be ridden too far back from bad alleys or sit wide and cover ground, and he's been able to overcome that," Berry said. "This is probably one of the first times he is going to have the opportunity to get into a rhythm and be happy."
With 14 engaged, Berry expects a more controlled tempo than usual in the Epsom, headed by unbeaten mare Autumn Glow.
"The favorite will be very hard to beat ... but I am sure he will be snapping at her heels late," he said.
