The countdown is on towards the feature Cups and the Turnbull Stakes Day meeting at Flemington is moving day in many eyes.
The Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) on Saturday is a race, in particular, that shines the light on the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 19 with Verry Elleegant (2020) and Incentivise (2021) winning at Flemington and then scoring again two weeks later.
It is for that reason many of the leading Caulfield Cup fancies have their campaigns tailored around running in the Turnbull Stakes as their final lead up for two weeks later.
Trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr have specifically tailored their Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup, run at Flemington on November 5, program for Queensland Derby winner Warmonger around the Turnbull Stakes.
After a spell in Queensland following his Derby success in June, Warmonger resumed with a pleasing fourth behind Mr Brightside and Pride Of Jenni in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 14.
“His first-up run was super and was what we wanted to see,” Kent Jnr said.
“He carried residual fitness down from Queensland plus a forward spring coat, and he ran accordingly in what was very tough conditions.
“They sprinted on the home bend, but then he stayed on well through the line.
“His last 200 metres was ideal. It was good to see him go past Via Sistina and he worked home as well as anything in the race.
“We wanted to be third-up into the Caulfield Cup and planned the Makybe Diva, the Turnbull, Caulfield Cup.
“That gave us three weeks between the Makybe Diva and the Turnbull, which the way it has turned out is nice given the gruelling test that day.”
Kent Jnr expects the 2000m on Saturday to be ideal for Warmonger who will also strip fitter for both his first-up run and going forward to Caulfield.
The co-trainer is also expecting improvement to come from rivals on Saturday who were below their best on the wet track at Flemington and who, on face value, disappointed in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on September 21.
“He was never going to be competitive over a mile at weight-for-age against the best horses in the country,” Kent Jnr said of Warmonger in the Makybe Diva Stakes.
“At 2000 metres he’s more of a chance, for sure he can run well, but he’s becoming a top-level stayer so for us, the mile-and-a-half is what is going to bring him into the race.
“I think the Underwood Stakes, there is possibly some hidden runs there as it was run at such a brutal tempo, and it didn’t allow certain horses to get into it.
“So, I wouldn’t be surprised if horses like Fawkner Park and Place Du Carrousel really jump out of the ground at their next start.
“I’m sure Saturday will tell a story.”
