Analysis: Michael Manley runs the rule over the Turnbull Stakes

SHE looks unstoppable again. Winx’s two starts this time in suggest she’s going as well as ever and she gets out to what arguably is her pet distance, writes form analyst Michael Manley.

SHE looks unstoppable again. Winx’s two starts this time in suggest she’s going as well as ever and she gets out to what arguably is her pet distance, writes form analyst Michael Manley.

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THE EARLY OIL: FLEMINGTON

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MONEY TRAIN: EVEREST PUNTERS FLY FLAG

ANALYSIS: TURNBULL STAKES

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THE FACTORS

Track: Good 4

Rail: Out 9m

Forecast: 21C

THE SPEED

TRAP FOR FOOLS will take up the running and should set a good clip. JON SNOW should settle second with DIVINE UNICORN and GRUNT also likely to be handy. WINX will go back.

$500,000 GROUP 1 TAB TURNBULL STAKES (2000M)

Saturday 3pm

1 GRUNT 9 Mick Price Mark Zahra 58kg $11

2 WINX 8 Chris Waller Hugh Bowman 57kg $1.15

3 MIGHTY BOSS 7 Mick Price Michael Walker 56.5kg $61

4 KINGS WILL DREAM 1 Darren Weir Craig Williams 56.5kg $11

5 JON SNOW 2 Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman Stephen Baster 55.5kg $26

6 DIVINE UNICORN 3 Matthew Dunn Brenton Avdulla 55.5kg $81

7 TRAP FOR FOOLS 6 Jarrod McLean Ben Allen (a) 55kg $61

8 VENTURA STORM 5 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig Luke Nolen 54.5kg $41

9 TALLY 10 James Cummings Damian Lane 54.5kg $71

10 YOUNGSTAR 4 Chris Waller Kerrin McEvoy 54.5kg $19

Winx and Hugh Bowman return to scale after winning last year’s Turnbull Stakes.

THE SKINNY

GRUNT

It’s no wonder Mick Price doesn’t want to start him at Caulfield again and refers to him as a Flemington form as take out his hometrack form he’d be being talked up as a threat to Winx. Away from Caulfield he’s a star whose won his last five starts five including two Group One races, the Australian Guineas and the Makybe Diva Stakes. Last Sunday in the Underwood Stakes he suffered his third Caulfield defeat this campaign when he led and tired. Look for him to bounce back.

WINX

What can you write to sum her up aptly? She’s an unmatched freakish talent. She’s going for win 28 in a row and her 21st Group 1 win on Saturday. Her two starts this time in suggest she’s going as well as ever. She gets out to what arguably is her pet distance. She won this race last year eased up by six-and-a-half lengths. This is a tougher assignment but $1.15 is a legitimate price.

MIGHTY BOSS

He’s going a bit better than what his form suggests. Finished off nicely for 2.2 lengths sixth behind Night’s Watch last start at Caulfield after being held up. His jockey Michael Walker is effusive about him and believes he’s a legitimate Caulfield Cup chance. One for the placings.

KINGS WILL DREAM

Although he hasn’t won this time in he’s flying with three superb runs. Finished off strongly for second behind Grunt in the Makybe Diva Stakes. Step up to 2000m is ideal and he loves this track. If there’s one horse who can take the race to Winx it’s going to be this fellow.

JON SNOW

Tenacious Kiwi stayer who kept fighting to hold down third in the Makybe Diva Stakes behind Grunt and Kings Will Dream last start. He’ll push forward and chances will be improved by a wet track but unfortunately for him so will Winx’s.

A huge crowd is expected to greet Winx in her first run in Melbourne this spring. Picture: AAP

DIVINE UNICORN

Northern NSW galloper who emerged to win a Group 3 race at Doomben in June. Hasn’t had a lot of luck in his two Melbourne starts but this is a quantum leap in class for him.

TRAP FOR FOOLS

Surprisingly gave up the lead in the JRA Cup at Moonee Valley last start and from that moment his chances were cooked. He only knows one way and that’s too lead and he’s sure to do that in this. Faces a major class rise but no surprise to see him hold down a place if he can lead.

VENTURA STORM

Hasn’t been far away in his two starts this time in at Caulfield with close-up mid-field runs. He finished second in this race last year with Humidor third. He carried 56.5kg on that occasion and drops two kilos on that to 54.5kg.

TALLY

First-up run was sound when close-up fifth in the Shannon Stakes at Rosehill. Finished third behind runaway winner Hartnell in this race last year. Not going anywhere near as well though.

YOUNGSTAR

She was mentioned in the same breath as her illustrious stablemate Winx when she won the Queensland Oaks in June as that was also the superstar’s first win at Group 1 level and her fourth in a row. Her winning sequence ended at her next start when third in the Queensland Derby. She’s had two runs this time in for two good runs, including her last start third in the Shannon Stakes at Rosehill. Step up to 2000m will suit as will Flemington.

Winx wins at Turnbull Stakes Flemmigton. Picture: Jason Edwards

MICKS TIPS

1. WINX

2. Kings Will Dream

3. Grunt

4. Youngstar

HISTORY SAYS

The last seven-year-old mare to win this race was also one of the greats, MAKYBE DIVA in 2005. The last two Turnbull Stakes have been won by six and a half lengths by HARTNELL in 2016 and WINX in 2017.

Chief Herald Sun form analyst Michael Manley is never far away with his best bets.