Turnbull Stakes 2025 - Barrier Draw & Final Field

Bets.com.au Staff

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Last updated: Wed 01 Oct 2025 02:01

Bets.com.au Staff 01 Oct 2025

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The Group 1 Turnbull Stakes will be run over 2000m at Flemington
Scheduled for Saturday, October 4, 2025, it headlines the Melbourne program
A key spring feature, it often shapes the path towards the Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup

Via Sistina defeats Buckaroo in the 2024 Turnbull Stakes. (Getty)

Via Sistina (barrier 1) is a 10-time Group 1 winner who wasn’t suited second-up in the Makybe Diva Stakes, a race controlled from the front by Mr Brightside.

Turnbull Stakes 2025 - Barriers & Final Field
Turnbull Stakes Winners

She atoned at the same stage last spring when taking out the Turnbull Stakes before delivering a famous Cox Plate triumph, and her record at the top level again makes her a major player this year.

Aeliana (barrier 5) was unlucky not to win the Rosehill Guineas over this trip third-up in the autumn before going on to claim the Australian Derby in dominant fashion.

First-up this campaign, she chased gamely to just miss behind Via Sistina in the Winx Stakes before turning the tables in the Makybe Diva Stakes.

The rising star now has the chance to further enhance her record over 2000m.

Sir Delius (barrier 14) has made an immediate impact since arriving in Australia, winning two of his three starts including a brave last-start triumph in the Underwood Stakes.

The import continues to build his profile with each run and looks ideally placed to step up to 2000m third-up.

Antino (barrier 6) has had little luck in two runs this preparation, with circumstances conspiring against him on each occasion.

A genuine talent at his best, he gets another chance here to prove himself at the top level and to show whether he can measure up against proven Group 1 opposition.

The 2025 Turnbull Stakes will be run at Flemington on Saturday, October 4, and once again promises to be a key spring launching pad into races like the Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup.

Turnbull Stakes 2025 - Barriers & Final Field

No.	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Barrier	Weight
1	Antino (NZ)	Tony Gollan	Blake Shinn	6	59kg
2	Land Legend (FR)	Chris Waller	Jye McNeil	10	58kg
3	Sir Delius (GB)	Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott	Craig Williams	14	58kg
4	Via Sistina (IRE)	Chris Waller	James McDonald	1	57kg
5	Moira (CAN)	Chris Waller	Ben Melham	11	56kg
6	Half Yours	Tony & Calvin McEvoy	Jamie Melham	4	56kg
7	Aeliana (NZ)	Chris Waller	Damian Lane	5	55kg
8	Young Werther (NZ)	Danny O'Brien	Billy Egan	13	55kg
9	Adelaide River (IRE)	Kris Lees	Michael Dee	9	55kg
10	Golden Path (NZ)	Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)	Jordan Childs	3	55kg
11	Middle Earth (GB)	Ciaron Maher	Mark Zahra	7	55kg
12	Deakin (FR)	Phillip Stokes	Daniel Stackhouse	12	55kg
13	Zardozi	Ciaron Maher	Harry Coffey	2	53kg
14	River Of Stars (IRE)	Chris Waller	Beau Mertens	8	53kg

Turnbull Stakes Winners

The Turnbull Stakes was first run in 1865, making it one of the oldest 2000m races in Australia. In its early years the race carried several different titles, including the Royal Park Stakes, September Stakes, October Stakes and Melbourne Stakes.

In 1948, it was renamed in honour of former Victorian Racing Club Chairman Richard Turnbull, and it has been known as the Turnbull Stakes ever since.

Across more than 150 years, the race has built an honour roll that features some of the nation’s greatest middle-distance champions. Legendary names such as Ajax, Rising Fast, Sunline and Winx have all triumphed in the event, underlining its stature on the Australian racing calendar.

While a prestigious contest in its own right, the Turnbull is also regarded as a key lead-up to the spring’s three majors — the Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup. Many winners have used it as the perfect launching pad to further carnival success.

In recent editions, the race has been taken out by Smokin’ Romans (2022), Gold Trip (2023) and Via Sistina (2024).