The Turnbull Stakes is a Group 1 race for four year old horses and above, hosted each year in early October during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. As one of the first Group 1 races of the season, this event has always managed to attract a strong field of competitors. While the Turnbull Stakes was only recently upgraded from Group 2 status during the 2006 season, it has a substantial history that stretches back to 1948.
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The Turnbull Stakes was originally named in honour of former VRC Chairman Richard Turnbull, who was the first incumbent VRC Chairman to win the Melbourne Cup with his horse Sirius. Sirius was victorious in 1944, with another of Mr Turnbull’s horses, East End, winning the VRC Oaks in 1942. This event has proved to be a great indicator for some of the bigger Melbourne races later in the season, and has provided a number of winners of the Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup, and WS Cox Plate.
The Turnbull Stakes was initially run in 1948 as a 12 furlong event, and was reduced in length to a 10 furlong race the next year. In 1972 with the advent of the metric system the Turnbull Stakes became a 2000 metre race, which is the same distance raced today. This event was initially a Handicap race, changing to a Set Weights plus Penalties event in 1964 with the introduction of new WFA conditions.
The Turnbull Stakes has managed to attract a top class field throughout much of its life, however, it was only recently elevated to Group 1 status in 2006. In the period between the turn of the century and the year it was upgraded, winners of this event include Fairway in 2000, Sunline in 2001, Northerly in 2002, Studebaker in 2003, and Elvstroem in 2004.
After the champion thoroughbred Makybe Diva won the Turnbull Stakes in 2005, the Australian Pattern Committee recommended that the Turnbull Stakes be upgraded to its current status, a recommendation endorsed by the Australian Racing Board. Since becoming a Group 1 event, the Turnbull Stakes has been won by some of the nations finest horses, including Sphenophyta in 2006, Devil Moon in 2007, Littorio in 2008, Efficient in 2009, Zipping in 2010, December Draw in 2011, and Green Moon in 2012.
