Soft track will help Gold Trip in Group 1 Turnbull Stakes on Saturday
Rain in Melbourne and a terrific first-up run has left co-trainer Ciaron Maher confident of a big performance in Saturday’s Group 1 Turnbull Stakes.
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This week’s rain could not have come at a better time for Gold Trip’s build-up towards a shot at his second Melbourne Cup crown next month.
Co-trainer Ciaron Maher said Gold Trip is in career-best shape but the stallion needs moisture in the ground for optimum performance.
The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast up to 60mm of rain in the lead-up to the Turnbull Stakes, which should result in soft ground at best for Saturday’s meeting.
The Turnbull Stakes will be Gold Trip’s second spring outing after an eye-catching first-up fourth behind in the in-form Young Werther at The Valley earlier this month.
Maher, who trains Gold Trip in partnership with David Eustace, said the seven-year-old was ready to return to Group 1 company in the Turnbull Stakes.
“I think he’s going better than ever. We were rapt with his first-up run,” Maher said at TAB’s spring carnival launch on Tuesday.
“It’s well-noted that you’ve got to keep his feet in the right order but thankfully they’ve been really good.
“He’s got a bit of a swagger about him at the moment.
“His coat is very sleek and he’s ready for the spring.”
TAB has Gold Trip at $15 in a Turnbull Stakes market dominated by top Hong Kong galloper Romantic Warrior.
Gold Trip is likely to be one of three Turnbull Stakes runners for Maher and Eustace, who won the $750,000 race last year with Smokin’ Romans.
Maher suggested punters not underestimate Duke De Sessa in the Turnbull Stakes despite the import finishing 10th behind Mr Brightside when resuming in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes.
Duke De Sessa has placed in two runs over 2000m but Maher said the Turnbull Stakes would be a more suitable assignment than an aborted trip to Sydney last weekend.
“Duke De Sessa, I feel is going quite well,” Maher said.
“He does put his best foot forward when there’s a bit of cut in the track.
“We had him in Sydney last weekend and we opted to scratch because of the way the weather was to head to the Turnbull.”
Originally published as Soft track will help Gold Trip in Group 1 Turnbull Stakes on Saturday
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