Turnbull Stakes Day Expert Racing Analysis

Group One Racing is on in earnest in Sydney for the Epsom, while the big Flemington meeting featuring the Turnbull Stakes has been switched to Sunday courtesy of the drawn AFL Grand Final. IASbet.com expert racing analyst, Gerard Twomey previews all the action.
Gerard Twomey IASbet.com Expert Racing Analysis

EPSOM HANDICAP

“In a typically open Epsom Handicap, Trusting is the horse to beat and you can get a price for him too ($5.00). His second to More Joyous is great form for this and he’s down on the minimum weight with just 52kg. He looks to be primed for a big run. Once Were Wild ($9.00) is an Oaks winner here but the biggest plus for her is Gai’s amazing record in the race. She had no luck last time and drops 5.5kg for this race. Black Piranha ($17.00) certainly has his share of weight but with Nash Rawiller in the saddle, he’ll get back and look to be charging home at good odds. Neeson is well in the market but I’m just not convinced about him running a strong mile in this company” said Twomey.

SPRING CHAMPION STAKES

Twomey believes Retrieve ($2.10) is the deserved short favourite in the Spring Champion Stakes. “Retrieve looks to be a far superior stayer to his rivals with his biggest challengers likely to be his stable mates Erewhon ($7.50) and Giresun ($5.00). Peter Snowden looks to have this race stitched up.”

THE METROPOLITAN

“The Metropolitan betting has seen strong support for the kiwi Mr Charlie. Now in the astute hands of Peter Moody, this bloke has been impressive in his two starts in Australia and with the addition of blinkers, he’s ready for the mile and a half. If you look at his 7 length win at Trentham over 2500m it’s hard not to like him. Herculian Prince has been easy in betting but if you can forgive his failure last start where the stable reported he swallowed his tongue, on his previous form he will be hard to beat”.

FLIGHT STAKES

“It really looks to be between More Strawberries and Parables in the Flight and punters agree with both around the $2.70 mark. I think the Victorian filly Yosei could be the knockout horse. She won the Group One Sires Produce here, and her latest effort at Caulfield was very encouraging.”

TURNBULL STAKES

On the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington, Twomey said, “this is a seriously hot race with numerous winning chances. Shocking is the Flemington specialist, but he looks under the odds to me, particularly under the set weights and penalties scale. Interestingly, the only horse to win with Shocking’s weight of 59kg in the last decade was Northerly, so he definitely has the task ahead of him. Moudre, if he can get a run, should run close to favourite and is crying out for the big track.”

Twomey warned punters, “Dariana has a great chance in this race and has been well supported. She’s come back better than ever, and the fact that Steven Arnold is prepared to get down to ride her at 54.5kg is a great lead for punters. Its ‘D-Day’ for Shoot Out. The Big Flemington track should suit and he gets his chance to stand up as a genuine Cox Plate contender. Like most punters, I’m not convinced that Typhoon Tracy can run out a strong 2000m.”

“This really is a fabulous weekend of racing, and the Turnbull will tell us a lot about what we can expect in the Cups”, enthused Twomey