Turnbull Stakes Tips, Betting, Odds, Horses & More 2025

The Turnbull Stakes holds a significant place within the Melbourne Spring Carnival, traditionally held in October at Flemington Racecourse and falling on the final weekend before the official start of the carnival. Flemington Racecourse is undoubtedly one of the top tracks in the country. 

The allure of the Turnbull Stakes arises not only from its Group 1 status but also from its ability to attract the best of mature horse talent from across Australia and serve as a vital lead in race to some of the great distance races on Australian turf. You certainly don’t want to miss the action that the Turnbull Stakes brings each and every year.

Run at the prestigious Flemington Racecourse, the Turnbull Stakes acts as a launching pad for many of Australia's premier racehorses to strut their stuff. There is a sense of excitement in the air as we still have the full Melbourne Spring Carnival to come. 

The Turnbull Stakes runs over 2,000m under set weights and penalties conditions (meaning the weight carried by the horse is determined by its age and sex) for horses 4YOs and upwards. Boasting a hefty $750,000 prize pot for competitors, it's an important race to win in its own right.

Along with the Turnbull Stakes, we also see an important Group 3 race, The Bart Cummings. A win in The Bart Cummings is crucial as it is one of the few races that is exempt from the ballot for the biggest race of them all, the Melbourne Cup.

No matter what information you are looking for about the Turnbull Stakes, you’ll find it here with OnlyRacing. We have information on horse racing betting for the race, so if you want to place bets, we’ve got you covered. We also include other important pieces of information like the field, form guide, odds, tips, history and more!

The race is also often seen as a stepping stone towards the more abundant prizes up for grabs later in the carnival. Even so, the horse that takes top honours walks away with a cool $450,000. Plus, there's prize money given out all the way down to the horse that finishes 8th. For a detailed breakdown of the prize money distribution, see below:

Would you like some horse racing tips? Well, good for you because you’ve come to the right place! We’ve got all the Turnbull Stakes tips you’re looking for. There’s something for everyone as well, as our experts provide three tips for the race, their best bet, next best and best roughie. If you're looking for something more, you can always check out our Flemington tips that cover all the biggest race meetings.

Our Turnbull Stakes tips aren’t available just yet as we are waiting until race week for more information about the runners who are competing in the race. As soon as it is race week, our experts will start crunching the numbers to provide their tips.

Seeing that you’re already here, why don’t you take a look at the tips we put together for the Turnbull Stakes in 2024:

Turnbull Stakes Best Bet - Via Sistina

Talk about a high-quality field, we have multiple Group 1 winners here and the market reflects that as it is quite an open affair. For my best bet, I’ve landed on Via Sistina, who is currently the second favourite with odds of $4.20 to win the race, thanks to PlayUp. It just all depends on how much rain we actually get in Melbourne.

The less rain, the better considering her flop in the Makybe Diva Stakes when going around as favourite. So, I’ll be holding off a little bit, just to see how Friday and Saturday shake out before making a final call. Even if it does rain, I reckon forgive her on one bad run. She is third-up and has won over this distance, with her form stacking up nicely here.

Turnbull Stakes Next Best - Warmonger

Buckaroo is really in this, but I can’t pass up the value we’re getting for Warmonger (and I already found a good roughie, my best roughie pick is also taken!). Like many other runners at this stage, the Turnbull Stakes is just a stepping stone to bigger Spring riches, like the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup.

He is a top-class runner who loves the longer races and I think he is a genuine winning chance in this one. He has faced some difficult opponents in the past so far this prep, but the Turnbull Stakes is set up for him pretty nicely. Good each-way odds for him as well, currently listed at $12 to win the race.

Turnbull Stakes Best Roughie - Sharp ‘N’ Smart

Taking a chance here, but if it pays off, I’ll look like a genius. Sharp ‘N’ Smart is currently paying $26 thanks to PlayUp and he is already a three-time Group 1 winner. Also, two of those wins came over the same distance, so that works in his favour as well. He hasn’t had things all his way recently, so some luck will need to be on his side.

Gets a wide barrier, but it could work to his advantage as he’ll look to stay out of trouble in the middle of the field, giving himself some free air when the time is right. He is a classy horse, no doubt, so to see him as one of the bigger roughies in the market is surprising, I think he can surprise a few.

Placing your bets on the Turnbull Stakes and other Group 1 Australian thoroughbred races can really let your racing know-how shine. Whether you're into simple Win or Place market bets, or fancy dabbling in the more intricate world of exotic bets, there's plenty to choose from. 

If multis and exotics are your thing, or if you're keen on zeroing in on particular jockeys or the top bets of the day, our all-inclusive guide has you covered. The Turnbull Stakes promises to be an exciting Group 1 race held at Flemington Racecourse and many punters choose to test their skills, betting on the race. 

Choosing from one of the best Australian betting sites can be overwhelming, but we aim to make it easier by suggesting a few reliable options. Before diving into the recommendations, it's important to study the field of runners for the Turnbull Stakes and decide which horses you wish to bet on.

One of the key factors to consider when selecting one of the top best betting apps is the odds they offer. It may require some effort, but visiting multiple bookmakers and comparing the odds they provide for your preferred market can help you determine which bookie offers the best odds. 

By choosing the bookmaker with the highest odds, you increase your potential return. For a comprehensive list of Australian bookmakers that offer Group 1 thoroughbred horse racing markets, you can refer to our bookmaker reviews page.

Another aspect to consider is your comfort level with a particular bookmaker. Many Australian punters prefer to bet with bookmakers they are familiar with, whether it's due to the app or website they frequently use. 

It is entirely reasonable to stick with a bookmaker you feel comfortable placing your bets with. Our bookmaker reviews page provides information on the reliability of each bookie, which can assist you in making an informed decision.

Betting sites bonuses also play a significant role in selection. Check our OnlyRacing promotions page to see what various Australian bookmakers offer in terms of bonuses and promotions. Some bookies may have specific promotions for the Turnbull Stakes, so it's worth exploring those options as well.

Ultimately, there is no definitive method for choosing a bookmaker for the Turnbull Stakes. The tips mentioned above are all valid considerations. However, it is crucial to ensure that you bet with a reliable bookmaker and provide any necessary verification information before placing your bets.

We all want to know which runners will be taking part in the Turnbull Stakes field for 2025. As of right now, we don’t know which runners will be taking part in the Turnbull Stakes. While we have to wait for race week to get confirmation, we do know the field will be filled with high-quality runners.

If you want to get a little sneaky peek at which runners are targeting the Turnbull Stakes and are more likely to appear in the final field, you should check out the odds. If the odds are available, we will have them listed below in our “Odds” section. The runners with the shorter odds are deemed more likely to make it into the final field.

We have to wait until race week for the 2025 final field to be confirmed, but we can always take a look back at the runners who took part in the race in 2024. All the details can be found here:

In 2024, we saw a field of 16 runners line up for the Turnbull Stakes, with no emergencies confirmed either. This didn’t matter in the end as there weren’t any pre-race scratchings so all 16 confirmed runners took their place in the barriers.

You’ll notice in horse racing that scratchings happen all the time. It is very unfortunate and there are several reasons as to why a runner might be scratched. It is also important to keep an eye on the field as scratchings can happen at any time and you don’t want to be blindsided. 

Along with any scratchings, you should look into the barrier draw. Before the race each runner is randomly selected a barrier and this can have a fairly major impact on the race tactics deployed. The way the race pans out can be a direct result of the barrier each runner jumps from.

If you want to increase your chances of picking a winner for the Turnbull Stakes, one of the biggest things you can do is go through the form guide. The Turnbull Stakes form guide covers a lot of data that can present patterns, which can lead you down the road of a winner. While it isn’t 100% foolproof, it can give you a leg up.

If you don’t have the time to go through and find all the key form indicators, that’s okay! You’ve come to the right place. We go through all the stats and data from the Turnbull Stakes and have put together some key form indicators that you need to know before placing any bets. Check out the details below!

The 2,000m event is a top-class test for middle-distance runners and its location in the Spring Racing Carnival presents a unique crossroad for punters, with multiple formlines to look into. Some of the best lead-up races include the Underwood Stakes and the Makybe Diva Stakes.

In the last 25 years, we’ve seen 10 Turnbull Stakes winners come from the Underwood Stakes. The Makybe Diva Stakes also needs to be considered, in 2021 Incentivise successfully completed the Makybe Diva Stakes - Turnbull Stakes double.

Interestingly, all winners between the years of 2014 and 2018 had their lead-up run in Sydney before travelling south to Melbourne. Historically, horses coming from Sydney have had difficulty in the Turnbull Stakes, but this is now changing and these runners should be seriously considered. 

Favourites don’t really have a good record in the Turnbull Stakes as we’ve only seen five favourites win the race since 2006! On top of this two of the five favourites that have won since 2006 were Winx and we all know how unique of a situation she was.

The age that has had the most success in recent years is 6YOs. Since 2011, we have seen seven 6YOs win the Turnbull Stakes. On the not-so-successful side, mares have a poor record in the race, winning on just nine occasions since 1983. Via Sistina did win the race in 2024 as a 7YO mare.

Wide barriers don’t seem to be very successful in the Turnbull Stakes. Since 2002, we have only seen four runners who have won the race from a double-digit barrier. You should also look to avoid those who are taking on the race second-up. Since 1989, we have only seen three winners take on the Turnbull Stakes second-up.

With a race that has been running for as long as the Turnbull Stakes has, we’ve seen some of the best-ever horses in the industry compete. There are many Turnbull Stakes horses that we could feature in this section, but we only have a handful of spots available. 

This means that we’ve had to make some pretty tough decisions on which horses to feature. With the horses that we do include in this section, we will go through their history of success as well as any honours or awards they have achieved. Check out the Turnbull Stakes horses below:

Wakeful - 1903

The 1903 winner of the Turnbull Stakes, Wakeful, ended her career with a record of 44:25-12-4. Throughout her career, she won Group One races like the Doncaster Mile, the Newmarket Handicap and the Caulfield Stakes. In 2002, Wakeful was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame. 

Ajax - 1938 & 1940

Multiple winner of the Turnbull Stakes, Ajax won the race in 1938 and 1940. The stallion won or placed in almost every race he competed in and his record stood at 46:36-7-2. Some of the biggest races Ajax won throughout his career included; the Cox Plate, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the All Aged Stakes.

Tobin Bronze - 1966

Tobin Bronze was one of the most successful runners of his time and this included a victory in the 1996 Turnbull Stakes. He was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2003 and some of his biggest victories included; the Doncaster Mile, the Cox Plate, the Victoria Derby and the CF Orr Stakes.

Makybe Diva - 2005

This queen has a record of 36: 15- 4-3, which included prize money of over $14 million. She was named the Australian Racehorse of the Year in both 2005 and 2006, as well as this, she also has a Group 1 named after her, the Makybe Diva Stakes. Her greatest feat, however, is undoubtedly winning the Melbourne Cup three years in a row.

Winx - 2017 & 2018

If Makybe Diva is a queen, then Winx is certainly also a queen! She won 37 races throughout her career which helped her gain over $26 million in prize money. She was named the Australian Horse of the Year four seasons in a row, from 2015/6 until 2018/9. She also managed to win the Cox Plate four years in a row!

Before you place any bets, you’ll notice the odds attached to each market or runner you are looking at. The shorter the odds, the less return on investment you’ll receive if that bet gets up, but the more chance that bookie thinks that outcome will eventuate. 

Even if a runner is the favourite and has odds of something like $1.75, for example, it doesn’t 100% guarantee that the runner will win the race. Nothing is a sure thing in horse racing and massive roughies win all the time! 

Before the Turnbull Stakes, all the top bookies will open up horse racing markets for the race. This means that you’ll have plenty of time to get your bets sorted, but remember that as soon as the odds are released, they will be changing constantly, so if you see a price you like, it’s best to jump on!

Something else we recommend is to bet when the market is listed as “Before Noms”. When you bet during this time, it means that you’ll get your stake back if your runner doesn’t make the final field. If you’re betting when the market is listed as “All-In” you won’t get this luxury.

The Turnbull Stakes odds aren’t available just yet, but you can check out the odds for every runner in the 2024 field here:

*Odds correct as of 03/10/2024.

The Turnbull Stakes, a renowned Group 1 open-class horse race, has been a staple of Australian horse racing since its inception in 1865. Initially known as the Royal Park Stakes, the race underwent several name changes until it was finally named the Turnbull Stakes in 1948. 

The race, initially held over a distance of 3,200m, has experienced multiple distance modifications, finally settling at 2,000m in 1971. The Turnbull Stakes has seen numerous notable winners, including Winx in 2017 and 2018, which cemented its reputation as a launch pad for the Melbourne Spring Carnival's great distance races. 

Despite changes in name, status and distance, the race continues to captivate racing enthusiasts and holds a significant place in the Australian racing calendar, with its annual event now termed Turnbull Stakes Day.  We will provide here a wonderful look at the history of the race in a little more detail.

The Turnbull Stakes, a Group 1 open-class horse race, holds a prominent position in Australian horse racing, showcasing a blend of rich heritage and riveting sporting spectacle. The first instance of this illustrious event took place in 1865, under the moniker of the Royal Park Stakes, with a horse named The Sign claiming the initial victory. 

For the next three decades, the race underwent various name changes, from the September Stakes to the October Stakes, before finally being christened as the Melbourne Stakes in 1936. In 1948, a significant change occurred when the race was renamed the Turnbull Stakes in honour of Richard Turnbull, then Chairman of the Victoria Racing Club. 

The race continued to evolve not just in name but also in its categorisation. Initially regarded as a Principal Race, it ascended to Group 2 status in 1979 and eventually attained its Group 1 classification in 2006, confirming its prestige within the racing fraternity.

Equally as fluctuating as the race's moniker and standing has been the distance over which it has been run. Initially established as a true test for stayers with a gruelling 3,200m length, the race experienced numerous distance adjustments throughout its history. 

From an odd 2800m in 1884 to a period of 1600m from 1925-1947, the race finally settled at its current length of 2000m in 1971. Notable winners have left their mark on the Turnbull Stakes, creating a tapestry of racing excellence. 

Being the trainer of Winx, Chris Waller also has the honour of having trained the Turnbull winner in five of the seven renewals between 2015 and 2021. As Winx showed in 2017 and 2018, the Turnbull Stakes is often a launch pad for the great distance races in the Melbourne Spring Carnival, which is one of the biggest horse racing carnivals of the year.   

Who won the Turnbull Stakes? Who came second? Who came third? All will be revealed! We have all the results information you’ve been on the hunt for including the finishing order of the entire field along with a full race replay.

In 2024, we saw Via Sistina, one of the more favoured runners in the market, take out the Turnbull Stakes. The 7YO mare bucked a few trends to take out the race, as mares haven’t had much success in the past, and she jumped from a double-digit barrier. 

Buckaroo, who finished in second place, was just 0.2L off the pace and Eliyass wrapped up the final minor placing, 1.7L off the leader. The 2024 Turnbull Stakes was run in a time of 2:02.62 and there was a total of 12.6L that separated the first and last runners across the line.

Check out the full Turnbull Stakes results below:

You know where each runner finished in the Turnbull Stakes, so now it’s time to relive all the action. Check out the full race replay below:

Unless there’s a dead heat, there can only be one Turnbull Stakes winner each year. We have all the recent winners of the Turnbull Stakes listed below, check them out:

If you still have some questions about the Turnbull Stakes, this is the section for you! We’ve gone through and answered all the most common questions people have about the Turnbull Stakes. Check out all the Turnbull Stakes FAQs below: