Result: Cosmic Crusader won the 2026 Turnbull Stakes for Andrea Leek and William Pike, from Light Infantry Man and Aeliana.
The 2026 Turnbull Stakes is a Group 1 race over 2000 metres at Flemington, run as Race 8 at 4:25pm AEST on Saturday 3 October 2026 for $750,000. Defending champion Sir Delius is the favourite at $2.80, with Aeliana at $4.00 and Cosmic Crusader at $8.00. Punt Hub's best bet is No. 2 Sir Delius. He is unbeaten in his only start at Flemington over 2000m and has the best record in the field at the trip. He has also won on a heavy track, and the track is rated Heavy 9.
Soul Of Spain and Deakin have been scratched, leaving 13 runners. Sir Delius is trying to become the first horse since Winx in 2017 and 2018 to win the race in consecutive years. We're against No. 4 Cosmic Crusader. All odds below are Punt Hub's best displayed win prices at the time of writing. Follow the live market on the Punt Hub Turnbull Stakes race page.
Turnbull Stakes 2026 tips at a glance
Best bet (strong): 2. Sir Delius (barrier 9, 59kg, Craig Williams). Win, $2.80 best displayed.
Main danger: 5. Aeliana ($4.00), a dual Group 1 winner at 2000m and 2400m on soft ground last autumn.
Next best: 13. Saint George ($13), unbeaten from two starts over the Flemington 2000m.
Wet-track roughie: 7. Zahrann ($15), drawn barrier one and third on a heavy track over this course and distance in June.
Punt Hub selections: 2 – 5 – 13 – 7.
Against: 4. Cosmic Crusader ($8.00). He's in career-best form, but he's untried at 2000m and at Flemington.
What are the key facts for the 2026 Turnbull Stakes?
Race detail | 2026 Turnbull Stakes | Date | Saturday 3 October 2026 |
|---|---|
Venue | Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne VIC |
Race | Race 8, Turnbull Stakes (Group 1) |
Start time | 4:25pm AEST |
Distance | 2000 metres, turf, left-handed (anticlockwise) |
Conditions | Set weights and penalties, four-year-olds and upwards |
Prizemoney | $750,000 ($450,000 to the winner) |
Field | 15 accepted, 13 runners after Soul Of Spain (No. 10) and Deakin (No. 14) were scratched |
Weights | Sir Delius and Half Yours top the weights on 59kg; four runners on 55kg |
Track | Heavy 9 on Friday 2 October after a 53mm downpour; rail out 9m for the entire circuit |
Forecast | 95% chance of rain on Saturday, 6 to 25mm, possible thunderstorm |
Caulfield Cup ballot exemption | The winner is exempt from the ballot for the Caulfield Cup |
2025 winner | Sir Delius (Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott, Craig Williams) |
All times are AEST. Daylight saving starts in Victoria on Sunday 4 October, so the race runs on standard time.
Turnbull Stakes 2026 field, barriers and odds
The table lists each runner's barrier, weight, jockey, trainer and recent form. Odds are Punt Hub's best displayed win price across the bookmakers Punt Hub compares.
No. | Horse | Barrier | Kg | Jockey | Trainer | Form | Win odds | 1 | Half Yours | 14 | 59 | Jamie Melham | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | 444x6 | $13.00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | Sir Delius (GB) | 9 | 59 | Craig Williams | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 331x4 | $2.80 |
3 | Light Infantry Man (FR) | 3 | 58 | Harry Coffey | Ciaron Maher | 15x48 | $34.00 |
4 | Cosmic Crusader (NZ) | 4 | 58 | William Pike | Andrea Leek | x1132 | $8.00 |
5 | Aeliana (NZ) | 2 | 57 | Damian Lane | Chris Waller | 11x02 | $4.00 |
6 | Asterix (NZ) | 11 | 56.5 | Ben Melham | Chris Waller | 61x53 | $67.00 |
7 | Zahrann (IRE) | 1 | 56.5 | Ethan Brown | Ciaron Maher | 53x41 | $15.00 |
8 | Ohope Wins (NZ) | 5 | 56 | Blake Shinn | Chris Waller | 41x09 | $61.00 |
9 | Middle Earth (GB) | 6 | 56 | Mark Zahra | Ciaron Maher | 91x87 | $41.00 |
10 | Soul Of Spain (IRE) | 15 | 56 | Beau Mertens | Chris Waller | 2x683 | Scratched |
11 | Buckaroo (GB) | 8 | 55 | Jye McNeil | Chris Waller | 25x55 | $15.00 |
12 | She's A Hustler (NZ) | 7 | 55 | Jordan Childs | Grahame Begg | 355x5 | $14.00 |
13 | Saint George (GB) | 13 | 55 | Michael Dee | Ciaron Maher | x4112 | $13.00 |
14 | Deakin (FR) | 12 | 55 | Lachlan Neindorf | Phillip & Tommy Stokes | x5x38 | Scratched |
15 | Kings Valley (IRE) | 10 | 55 | Lachlan Neindorf | Ciaron Maher | 1x087 | $101.00 |
Prices can change, and scratchings may still occur on raceday. See the live Turnbull Stakes odds comparison for the latest market.
Turnbull Stakes 2026 market overview
Sir Delius has firmed from $3.20 to $2.80 and is a clear favourite. Aeliana is steady at $4.00. The biggest move in the race is Cosmic Crusader's drift from $5.50 to $8.00, so the market is having second thoughts about him on a heavy track at a new distance. Half Yours has firmed from $19 to $13 after his return in the Makybe Diva Stakes.
The Turnbull has a history of upsets. Of the 20 winners since it became a Group 1 in 2006, eight started at $5 or shorter and eight at $10 or longer, including Smokin' Romans ($21) in 2022 and Gold Trip ($19) in 2023. We still think the favourite is the right side this year.
Our Turnbull Stakes best bet: Sir Delius
The Punt Hub tipping desk's verdict on Sir Delius: he's the horse to beat and the one we want to be with. Here is the evidence behind that view.
He is the best 2000m horse in the race
Sir Delius has had four starts at 2000m in Australia for three wins and a third. The wins came in the 2025 Turnbull Stakes, the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick in April, and the Group 3 Chairman's Handicap at Doomben. His only defeat at the trip was a third behind Aeliana in the Ranvet Stakes on soft ground, beaten 1.1 lengths after he was eased back early. He has been out of the placings only twice in 14 career starts (7 wins, 2 seconds and 3 thirds).
He won this race from a tough draw last year
In 2025 Sir Delius won the Turnbull from barrier 14 at $7.50, despite being caught wide early and then held up in a pocket. He beat Antino by 1.75 lengths, with Via Sistina third and Half Yours fourth. Via Sistina went on to win the Cox Plate, and Half Yours won the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup. This year he draws barrier nine in a 13-horse field.
Sir Delius at 2000m | Result | Track | Weight | Chairman's Handicap (G3), Doomben, May 2025 | Won by 1.25 lengths | Heavy | 60kg |
|---|---|---|---|
Turnbull Stakes (G1), Flemington, October 2025 | Won by 1.75 lengths | Good | 58kg |
Ranvet Stakes (G1), Rosehill, March 2026 | Third, 1.1 lengths | Soft | 59kg |
Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1), Randwick, April 2026 | Won | Good | 59kg |
The heavy track isn't a worry
Sir Delius made his Australian debut on a heavy track over 2000m at Doomben and won by 1.25 lengths carrying 60kg. Co-trainer Adrian Bott says "he seems to have the ability to handle those conditions" and that a stronger stamina test would play into his favour. Bott also says he has the pace to be ridden forward from barrier nine and enjoys a high-pressure race.
The first-up run was the right sort
He resumed with fourth in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes over 1600m, beaten four lengths by Sheza Alibi over a trip well short of his best. He has won twice and run third from four second-up starts. Gai Waterhouse has kept his work "short and sharp" and, after a Tuesday gallop on the Flemington course proper, says: "I think I've got him spot on."
The case against
He carries 59kg, and only two winners since 2000 have carried that much: Northerly in 2002 and Zipping in 2010. The Makybe Diva run was solid rather than spectacular, and he needs to improve on it. Aeliana beat him on soft ground at Rosehill in March and gets 2kg from him here. At $2.80 there is no value in a place bet.
Price guide: we're happy to back him at $2.50 or better. He's the one we want to be with.
Turnbull Stakes 2026 contenders and form analysis
Sir Delius (2), the defending champion
Sir Delius is a six-year-old entire by Frankel. He has won the Turnbull, the Underwood Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and is $3 favourite for the Cox Plate. He's our best bet, for the reasons above.
Aeliana (5), the main danger
Chris Waller's mare won the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes over 2000m, beating Sir Delius, and the Group 1 Tancred Stakes over 2400m last autumn, both on soft ground. She ran fifth in this race last year. After a first-up 11th in the Winx Stakes, she bounced back with second behind Autumn Glow in the 7 Stakes, beaten 1.3 lengths. Third-up, at her best trip, with 57kg and barrier two, she's the clear danger. Waller said her Tuesday gallop at Flemington was very good.
Cosmic Crusader (4), the one we're against
Andrea Leek's Perth import has won 10 of 21 starts, including the Group 1 Northerly Stakes over 1800m. This campaign he won the Bletchingly Stakes and the P.B. Lawrence Stakes, ran third in the Memsie Stakes from the outside gate, then ran a career-best second to Birdman in the Underwood Stakes. He also has strong soft-track form, with three wins from four soft starts in his last nine runs.
We're against him on Saturday. He is a top-class horse who could easily prove us wrong. But Saturday asks a lot at once: his first run beyond 1800m, his first start at Flemington, a heavy track and 58kg, in his fifth run this campaign after a career peak. His drift from $5.50 to $8.00 suggests the market has the same doubts. We'd rather take him on than back him.
Saint George (13), course-and-distance form
Ciaron Maher's grey is unbeaten from two starts over the Flemington 2000m, including a soft-track win in July, and has four wins from seven at the distance. He won at Caulfield in August carrying 61.5kg. Then he was beaten a length by stablemate Zahrann in the Naturalism Stakes, giving him 3.5kg, from barrier 16 of 16. He's on 55kg here. Group 1 is a step up, but the track, trip and conditions all suit.
Zahrann (7), the improver from barrier one
Zahrann has had only 10 starts and won the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes over 2000m last start. All four of his wins have come at 2000m or further. He ran third on a heavy track over this course and distance in June. From barrier one with 56.5kg and Ethan Brown riding, he has the rail and a wet-track profile, and could still improve.
Half Yours (1), the Cups champion
Last year's Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup winner finished fourth in this race with 56kg. He has firmed into $13 after a strong return in the Makybe Diva Stakes, where he ran one of the fastest final 400m sectionals in the race. Now he has 59kg and barrier 14, and he hasn't won since last year's Melbourne Cup. This race looks like a stepping stone for him.
She's A Hustler (12) and Buckaroo (11)
She's A Hustler ran second on a heavy track over this course and distance last November and won the Zipping Classic over 2400m at Caulfield. She was finishing well when resuming in the Makybe Diva. Buckaroo ran second to Via Sistina in this race in 2024 and drops 4kg to 55kg from the Underwood Stakes. However, he hasn't won since September 2024.
The rest of the field
Light Infantry Man (3), a dual Australian Cup winner over this course and distance, is likely to lead but needs everything in his favour at eight years old. Middle Earth (9) and Asterix (6) look better suited to longer races later in the spring. Ohope Wins (8), an Oaks winner on both sides of the Tasman, has been slow away in both runs this campaign. Kings Valley (15) needs a career-best run.
What is the 2026 Turnbull Stakes speed map?
The rail is out 9m for the entire circuit, and the tempo looks genuine but not frantic. Expected positions:
Position | Expected runners (barrier) | Leaders | Light Infantry Man (3), Cosmic Crusader (4) |
|---|---|
On or near the pace | Sir Delius (9) if ridden forward, Zahrann (1), Aeliana (2) |
Midfield | Saint George (13), She's A Hustler (7), Asterix (11), Middle Earth (6) |
Back | Half Yours (14), Buckaroo (8), Ohope Wins (5), Kings Valley (10) |
Light Infantry Man is the natural leader. Cosmic Crusader raced on the speed in the Underwood Stakes and can sit close. If Craig Williams pushes forward from barrier nine, Sir Delius will be in the first four and able to choose his moment. The heavy track will reward horses that are on the pace and stay the trip, which suits Sir Delius, Aeliana and Zahrann.
History on barriers is mixed. We analysed every winner since 2000: 20 of 26 came from barriers one to nine. But each of the last three winners came from barrier 12 or wider: Gold Trip in 2023, Via Sistina in 2024 and Sir Delius in 2025.
Flemington track condition and weather for the Turnbull
Flemington was rated Heavy 9 on Friday after a 53mm downpour, with the rail out 9m for the entire circuit. The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts a 95% chance of rain on Saturday, with 6 to 25mm likely and a possible thunderstorm. Expect a heavy track at 4:25pm. Here is the recent wet-track form of the main chances:
Runner | Wet-track form (last nine starts) | Heavy-track view | Sir Delius | Heavy: 1 start, 1 win (2000m, 60kg). Soft: two thirds | Proven |
|---|---|---|
Aeliana | Soft: 2 wins (Ranvet and Tancred Stakes) and a second from 4 | Big plus |
Saint George | Soft: 2 wins from 4, including Flemington over 2000m | Suits |
Zahrann | Heavy: third at Flemington over 2000m | Suits |
She's A Hustler | Heavy: a second at Flemington over 2000m and a fifth. Soft: 1 win | Handles it |
Cosmic Crusader | Soft: 3 wins and a third from 4. Heavy: no runs in his last nine starts | Unknown on heavy |
Half Yours | Heavy: a fourth. Soft: won the Melbourne Cup | Handles it |
Watch the earlier races for a bias, especially the Edward Manifold Stakes (Race 4) and The Bart Cummings (Race 7), which are run over similar ground before the Turnbull.
What do Turnbull Stakes trends and statistics show?
Price: of the 20 winners since the race became a Group 1 in 2006, eight started at $5 or shorter and eight at $10 or longer.
Back-to-back: no horse has won the race in consecutive years since Winx in 2017 and 2018. Other dual winners include Ajax, Comic Court and Vo Rogue.
Age: since 2000, six-year-olds have won eight times, five-year-olds seven and four-year-olds seven. Sir Delius is six.
Weight: only Northerly (2002) and Zipping (2010) have won with 59kg since 2000.
Sex: mares have won eight of the 26 runnings since 2000, including Via Sistina in 2024. Aeliana and She's A Hustler are the mares in this year's field. Entires such as Sir Delius have won five.
Barriers: 20 of 26 winners since 2000 came from barriers one to nine, but the last three winners all came from barrier 12 or wider.
Trainers: Chris Waller has won the Turnbull six times: Preferment (2015), Winx (2017 and 2018), Kings Will Dream (2019), Verry Elleegant (2020) and Via Sistina (2024). That's level with Lee Freedman for the most wins. Waller has four runners this year.
Spring guide: recent Turnbull runners have gone on to the biggest races of the spring. Via Sistina won the Cox Plate after the 2024 and 2025 Turnbulls, and Half Yours won the 2025 Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup after running fourth.
Who are the recent Turnbull Stakes winners?
Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Barrier | Kg | SP | 2025 | Sir Delius | Craig Williams | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 14 | 58 | $7.50 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2024 | Via Sistina | Damian Lane | Chris Waller | 12 | 57 | $4.00 |
2023 | Gold Trip | Mark Zahra | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 16 | 58 | $19.00 |
2022 | Smokin' Romans | Ethan Brown | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 5 | 55.5 | $21.00 |
2021 | Incentivise | Brett Prebble | Peter Moody | 6 | 57.5 | $2.70 |
2020 | Verry Elleegant | Mark Zahra | Chris Waller | 9 | 55.5 | $5.00 |
2019 | Kings Will Dream | Jye McNeil | Chris Waller | 3 | 54.5 | $11.00 |
2018 | Winx | Hugh Bowman | Chris Waller | 8 | 57 | $1.10 |
2017 | Winx | Hugh Bowman | Chris Waller | 2 | 57 | $1.20 |
2016 | Hartnell | James McDonald | John O'Shea | 3 | 57.5 | $1.90 |
In 2025 Sir Delius beat Antino and Via Sistina, with Half Yours fourth, in 2:02.82. Half Yours and Buckaroo are back this year.
Turnbull Stakes history
The Turnbull was first run in 1865 as the VRC Royal Park Stakes. It was renamed in 1948 after Richard Turnbull, the Victoria Racing Club chairman at the time. It was a principal race until 1978, a Group 2 from 1979 and has been a Group 1 since 2006. It was run as a handicap until 1963 and is now a set-weights-and-penalties race for four-year-olds and upwards.
The race is the centrepiece of what Melbourne calls "Moving Day", because it reshapes the markets for the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup. Its honour roll includes The Barb, Ajax, Bernborough, Rising Fast, Sunline, Northerly, Makybe Diva and Winx.
Turnbull Stakes 2026 prizemoney
First: $450,000
Second: $135,000
Third: $67,500
Fourth: $33,750
Fifth: $18,750
Sixth, seventh and eighth: $15,000 each
The winner also earns exemption from the ballot for the Caulfield Cup.
Turnbull Stakes Day 2026 race times at Flemington
R1, Maribyrnong Trial Stakes, 1000m, 12:25pm
R2, One Pool Handicap, 1200m, 12:55pm
R3, Super Impose Stakes, 1800m, 1:30pm
R4, Edward Manifold Stakes, 1600m, 2:05pm
R5, Rose Of Kingston Stakes, 1400m, 2:40pm
R6, Danehill Stakes, 1100m, 3:15pm
R7, The Bart Cummings, 2520m, 3:50pm
R8, Turnbull Stakes (Group 1), 2000m, 4:25pm
R9, Gilgai Stakes, 1200m, 5:05pm
R10, Paris Lane Stakes, 1400m, 5:40pm
The winner of The Bart Cummings earns a Golden Ticket into the 2026 Melbourne Cup.
How to watch the Turnbull Stakes
GET TO THE TRACK! Gates open at 10:55am at Flemington, and tickets for Turnbull Stakes Day are sold by the Victoria Racing Club.
But if you can't, here's where to watch:
Channel 7 and 7plus (free to air) · Racing.com (Channel 78, website and app) · Sky Racing · Kayo
Turnbull Stakes 2026 frequently asked questions
When and what time is the 2026 Turnbull Stakes?
The 2026 Turnbull Stakes is on Saturday 3 October at Flemington in Melbourne. It is Race 8, scheduled to start at 4:25pm AEST.
How long is the Turnbull Stakes?
The Turnbull Stakes is run over 2000 metres on the Flemington turf, left-handed. Last year Sir Delius won it in 2:02.82.
Who is favourite for the 2026 Turnbull Stakes?
Sir Delius is favourite at a best displayed $2.80 on Punt Hub at the time of writing. Aeliana is $4.00 and Cosmic Crusader $8.00. Prices can change.
What are Punt Hub's Turnbull Stakes tips?
Punt Hub's selections are 2. Sir Delius, 5. Aeliana, 13. Saint George and 7. Zahrann. Our best bet is Sir Delius to win. We're against Cosmic Crusader at $8.00.
What is the best roughie in the 2026 Turnbull Stakes?
Zahrann, at around $15, is our wet-track roughie. He draws barrier one and ran third on a heavy track over the Flemington 2000m in June. Saint George, at around $13, is unbeaten from two starts over this course and distance.
What will the track be like for the Turnbull Stakes?
Flemington was rated Heavy 9 on Friday 2 October, with the rail out 9m. With 6 to 25mm of rain forecast for Saturday, expect a heavy track. Check the official rating on raceday morning.
Has anything been scratched from the Turnbull Stakes?
Soul Of Spain (No. 10) and Deakin (No. 14) have been scratched, leaving 13 runners. Late scratchings are still possible on raceday.
How much prizemoney is the Turnbull Stakes worth?
The 2026 Turnbull Stakes is worth $750,000. The winner receives $450,000 and is exempt from the Caulfield Cup ballot.
Who won the Turnbull Stakes last year?
Sir Delius won the 2025 Turnbull Stakes for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, ridden by Craig Williams, at $7.50. Antino was second and Via Sistina third.
Which trainer has won the most Turnbull Stakes?
Chris Waller and Lee Freedman share the record with six wins each. Waller has four runners this year, led by Aeliana.
Can Sir Delius win back-to-back Turnbull Stakes?
Yes, and he's our best bet to do it. No horse has won consecutive Turnbulls since Winx in 2017 and 2018.