Turnbull Stakes
The Turnbull Stakes was first run in 1948, and it was named in honour of the incumbent VRC Chairman, Mr. Richard Turnbull.
It had its beginnings as a 12 furlong race until 1970, and it changed to a 10 furlong race the next year. By 1972, the Turnbull Stakes was a 2000m event, when Australian Racing went "metric" at the start of the 1972-73 season. Up until 1963 it was a handicap event, and WFA conditions were applied from 1964-70. Since then, the Turnbull Stakes has been a Set Weight & Penalties race.
Notable winners of the race include Beau Gem (1948), Comic Court (1949 & 50), Rising Fast (1954), Redcraze (1955), Craftsman (1965), Tobin Bronze (1966), Galilee (1968), Leilani (1974), Dulcify (1979), Vo Rogue (1987 & 88), Super Impose (1989), Better Loosen Up (1990), Let's Elope (1991), Naturalism (1992), Doriemus (1996), Sky Heights (1999), Sunline (2000), Northerly (2002) and Elvstroem (2004).
Despite the Turnbull Stakes' penchant for attracting a top quality field over a prolonged period, the race was only ever afforded Group 2 status at best. After the great Makybe Diva won the 2005 Turnbull Stakes, defeating a top class field, the Australian Pattern Committee had no option but to nominate it as a Group 1 event for 2006, and this recommendation was endorsed by the Australian Racing Board.
The Turnbull Stakes is an excellent race in its own right. While it does precede both Cups, and the Cox Plate, it should not be viewed as a preparatory race. With prizemoney of $AUD500,000 plus trophies valued at $2,500 it is a race that is months in the planning for the connections of the nation’s best middle distance horses.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Zipping | Nicholas Hall | Robert Hickmott | Shocking | Shoot Out |
| 2009 | Efficient | Nicholas Hall | John Sadler | Predatory Pricer | Scenic Shot |
| 2008 | Littorio | Steven King | Nigel Blackiston | Master O'Reilly | Zipping |
| 2007 | Devil Moon | Corey Brown | Mark Kavanagh | Scenic Shot | Haradasun |
| 2006 | Sphenophyta | Danny Nikolic | Lee Freedman | Our Smoking Joe | Aqua D'Amore = 3 Serenade Rose = 3 |
| 2005 | Makybe Diva | Steven King | Lee Freedman | Lad of the Manor | Confectioner |
| 2004 | Elvstroem | Nash Rawiller | Tony Vasil | Mummify | Confectioner |
| 2003 | Studebaker | Stephen Baster | John Hawkes | Pentastic | Strasbourg |
| 2002 | Northerly | Greg Childs | Fred Kersley | Dash For Cash | Fields Of Omagh |
| 2001 | Sunline | Greg Childs | Trevor McKee | Universal Prince | Primrose Sands |
| 2000 | Fairway | Darren Beadman | Greg Childs | Sunline | Diatribe |
| 1999 | Sky Heights | Damien Oliver | Colin Alderson | Ruy Lopez | Inaflury |
| 1998 | Aerosmith | Greg Childs | Peter Hurdle | Gold Guru | Our Unicorn |
| 1997 | Marble Halls | Damien Oliver | Lee Freedman | Beaux Art | Cheviot |
| 1996 | Doriemus | Greg Hall | Lee Freedman | Always Aloof | Seascay |
| 1995 | All Our Mob | Wayne Harris | Gai Waterhouse | Doriemus | Sir Kinghi |
| 1994 | Redding | Danny Brereton | Gavin Kelly | Paris Lane | Tristalove |
| 1993 | The Phantom Chance | Robbie Vance | Colin Jillings | Naturalism | Kiwi Golfer |
| 1992 | Naturalism | Simon Marshall | Lee Freedman | London Bridge | Mr Eurostar |
| 1991 | Let's Elope | Steven King | Bart Cummings | Prince Salieri | Renteeno |
| 1990 | Better Loosen Up | Michael Clarke | David Hayes | Royal Creation | Shuzohra |
| 1989 | Super Impose | Darren Gauci | Lee Freedman | Research | Sydeston |
| 1988 | Vo Rogue | Cyril Small | Vic Rail | Apollo Run | Ebeli Show |
| 1987 | Vo Rogue | Cyril Small | Vic Rail | Fair Sir | King Of Brooklyn |
| 1986 | Just Now | Harry White | Jim Atkins | Pharostan | Cimarra |
| 1985 | Lacka Reason | G. Willetts | Ms M. Bull | Our Sophia | Glen Mosiron |
| 1984 | Al Dwain | R. J. Skelton | T. G. Autridge | Alibhai | Beechcraft |
| 1983 | Chez Nous | M. Clarke | C. S. Hayes | La Cocotte | Malvita |
| 1982 | Birchwood | H. White | B. W. Elkington | Fearless Pride | Prince Majestic |
| 1981 | No Peer | H. White | J. B. Cummings | Deck The Halls | Saxon Slew |
| 1980 | Amarla | M. Baker | A. L. Browell | Polo Player | My Brown Jug |
| 1979 | Dulcify | B. Thomson | C. S. Hayes | Karaman | Kankama |
| 1978 | Lefroy | H. White | G. T. Murphy | So Called | Paignton |
| 1977 | Salamander | E. J. Didham | T. J. Hughes | Unaware | Major Till |
| 1976 | Denise's Joy | R. Higgins | T. J. Smith | Balmerino | Better Draw |
| 1975 | Analight | P. Trotter | C. Beechey | Vicki's Son | Taras Bulba |
| 1974 | Leilani | R. Higgins | J. B. Cummings | Herminia | Isomonia |
| 1973 | Australasia | R. Mallyon | C. Beechey | Dayana | Gala Supreme |
| 1972 | Sharif | B. Gilders | D. Judd | Gossiper | Haarle |
| 1971 | Igloo | E. J. Didham | A. E. Didham | Double Irish | Jan's Beau |
| 1970 | Arctic Symbol | P. Hyland | J. J. Moloney | Crewman | Cyron |
| 1969 | Fileur | J. J. Miller | C. S. Hayes | Rain Lover | General Command |
| 1968 | Galilee | R. Higgins | J. B. Cummings | Galena | Palatial |
| 1967 | Stellar Belle | G. Lane | I. J. Tucker | Terrific | Sunhaven |
| 1966 | Tobin Bronze | J. Johnson | H. G. Heagney | Terrific | Future |
| 1965 | Craftsman | P. Hyland | A. R. White | Light Fingers | Royal Duty |
| 1964 | Sir Dane | R. Higgins | R. J. Shaw | Royal Duty | Havelock |
| 1963 | Sometime | W. Pyers | W. Pyers | Prince Ming | Tatua |
| 1962 | Aquanita | F. Moore | R. J. Shaw | Grand Print | The Dip |
| 1961 | Blue Lodge | C. McLauchlan | D. McInnes | Dhaulagiri | Aquanita |
| 1960 | Aircraft | W. Williamson | P. G. Wadham | Joss Sticks | Nilarco |
| 1959 | Mac | F. Treen | A. I. Munro | Dawdie | Malarno |
| 1958 | Pandie Sun | R. Hutchinson | C. S. Hayes | Pushover | Highfire |
| 1957 | Syntax | W. Williamson | F. W. Hoysted | Sailor's Guide | Beaumine |
| 1956 | Pushover | N. Powell | J. P. Lewis | Ark Royal | Lady Chloe |
| 1955 | Redcraze | V. J. Sellars | S.A. Brown | Rising Fast | Ribera |
| 1954 | Rising Fast | W. Williamson | I. J. Tucker | Cromis | Surprise Ending |
| 1953 | Petrograd | S. Ralph | J. P. Mulcahy | Quiet Talk | Welloch |
| 1952 | Aldershot | W. Stocker | A. Macdonald | Bronton | Morse Code |
| 1951 | Morse Code | R. Heather | L. Robertson | Jovial Lad | Iron Duke |
| 1950 | Comic Court | J. Purtell | J. M. Cummings | Iron Duke | Spellman |
| 1949 | Comic Court | J. Purtell | J. M. Cummings | Nilam | Ninnid |
| 1948 | Beau Gem | R. Heather | G. Jesser | Lungi | Anthelion |
