Turn Back Time - Reliving the Last Five Turnbull Stakes

Alex Marsh

Editor

Last updated: Wed 30 Sep 2026 16:35

Alex Marsh 1 hour ago

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Relive the last five editions of the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington
Look back at recent winners including Sir Delius, Via Sistina, Gold Trip, Smokin' Romans and Incentivise
Revisit the race’s recent history before another quality field tackles the 2000m feature in 2026

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last 5 Turnbull winners

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 02: Brett Prebble riding Incentivise winning Race 7, the Tab Turnbull Stakes, during Melbourne Racing at Flemington Racecourse on October 02, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 02: Brett Prebble riding Incentivise defeats Daniel Moor riding Young Werther in Race 7, the Tab Turnbull Stakes, during Melbourne Racing at Flemington Racecourse on October 02, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 02: Katherine Coleman and Peter Moody pose with Incentivise after winning Race 7, the Tab Turnbull Stakes, during Melbourne Racing at Flemington Racecourse on October 02, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 01: Ethan Brown riding Smokin' Romans to victory in the 2022 Turnbull Stakes. (Getty)

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 01: Ethan Brown after riding Smokin' Romans to victory in the 2022 Turnbull Stakes. (Getty)

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 01: Ethan Brown riding Smokin' Romans to victory in the 2022 Turnbull Stakes. (Getty)

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 01: Ethan Brown after riding Smokin' Romans to victory in the 2022 Turnbull Stakes. (Getty)

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 07: Mark Zahra riding Gold Trip defeats Jamie Spencer riding West Wind Blows and Craig Williams riding Soulcombe in Race 8, the Tab Turnbull Stakes, during Melbourne Racing at Flemington Racecourse on October 07, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 07: Mark Zahra riding Gold Trip defeats Jamie Spencer riding West Wind Blows in Race 8, the Tab Turnbull Stakes, during Melbourne Racing at Flemington Racecourse on October 07, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 07: Mark Zahra after riding Gold Trip poses with trainer Ciaron Maher and David Eustace with the trophy after winning Race 8, the Tab Turnbull Stakes, during Melbourne Racing at Flemington Racecourse on October 07, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 07: Trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace pose with Gold Trip after winning Race 8, the Tab Turnbull Stakes, during Melbourne Racing at Flemington Racecourse on October 07, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 05: Damian Lane riding Via Sistina defeats Joao Moreira riding Buckaroo in Race 8, theTab Turnbull Stakes - Betting Odds during Melbourne Racing at Flemington Racecourse on October 05, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 05: Damian Lane poses with the trophy after riding Via Sistina to win Race 8, theTab Turnbull Stakes - Betting Odds during Melbourne Racing at Flemington Racecourse on October 05, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 05: Damian Lane and Charlie Duckworth, assistant trainer to Chris Waller pose with the trophy after Via Sistina won Race 8, theTab Turnbull Stakes - Betting Odds during Melbourne Racing at Flemington Racecourse on October 05, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 04: Craig Williams riding Sir Delius defeats Blake Shinn riding Antino in Race 8, the Tab Turnbull Stakes during Melbourne Racing at Flemington Racecourse on October 04, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 04: Craig Williams riding Sir Delius dismounts after winning Race 8, the Tab Turnbull Stakes during Melbourne Racing at Flemington Racecourse on October 04, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 04: Craig Williams riding Sir Delius after winning Race 8, the Tab Turnbull Stakes during Melbourne Racing at Flemington Racecourse on October 04, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 04: Strapper Mia Smith kisses Sir Delius after winning Race 8, the Tab Turnbull Stakes during Melbourne Racing at Flemington Racecourse on October 04, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 04: Craig Williams poses with Trainer Gai Waterhouse and connections after riding Sir Delius dismounts after winning Race 8, the Tab Turnbull Stakes during Melbourne Racing at Flemington Racecourse on October 04, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 04: Craig Williams riding Sir Delius winning Race 8, the Tab Turnbull Stakes during Melbourne Racing at Flemington Racecourse on October 04, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

The Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) is one of the defining races of the Melbourne spring, regularly bringing together leading weight-for-age performers and staying prospects before they progress towards races such as the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup.

2025 Turnbull Stakes
2024 Turnbull Stakes
2023 Turnbull Stakes
2022 Turnbull Stakes
2021 Turnbull Stakes
After The Turnbull Stakes

Its recent honour roll reflects that standing, with Sir Delius winning in 2025 after Via Sistina claimed the previous edition, while Gold Trip, Smokin' Romans and Incentivise completed an impressive sequence of winners between 2021 and 2023. The wider list includes champions such as Winx, Verry Elleegant, Makybe Diva, Sunline and Northerly.

The 2026 edition again brings together a strong collection of established Group 1 performers and emerging stayers, with Half Yours, defending champion Sir Delius, Aeliana and Light Infantry Man among the 15 runners set to tackle the Flemington 2000m.

Ahead of the 2026 TurnBull Stakes, we look back at the last five editions and relive each running.

2025 Turnbull Stakes

1st - Sir Delius

2nd - Antino

3rd - Via Sistina

2024 Turnbull Stakes

1st - Via Sistina

2nd - Buckaroo

3rd - Eliyass

2023 Turnbull Stakes

1st - Gold Trip

2nd - West Wind Blows

3rd - Soulcombe

2022 Turnbull Stakes

1st - Smokin' Romans

2nd - Maximal

3rd - Young Werther

2021 Turnbull Stakes

1st - Incentivise

2nd - Young Werther

3rd - Chapada

After The Turnbull Stakes

The Turnbull Stakes has established itself as one of the major races of the Melbourne spring, providing an important 2000m test at Flemington before many runners progress towards further Group 1 targets later in the carnival.

The race was first run under the Turnbull Stakes name in 1948 after the VRC renamed the October Melbourne Stakes in honour of former VRC chairman Richard Turnbull. It was elevated to Group 1 level in 2006 after previously holding Group 2 status from 1979.

Its recent editions have continued to produce high-class performers, with Sir Delius defeating Antino and Via Sistina in 2025 after Via Sistina beat Buckaroo and Eliyass the previous year. Via Sistina subsequently added the Cox Plate and Champions Stakes following her 2024 Turnbull victory.

Gold Trip defeated West Wind Blows and Soulcombe in 2023, while Smokin' Romans prevailed over Maximal and Young Werther in 2022. Incentivise won the 2021 edition from Young Werther and Chapada as part of his outstanding spring campaign.

The Turnbull Stakes' wider history includes winners such as Winx, Verry Elleegant, Makybe Diva, Green Moon, Sunline, Northerly and Efficient, reinforcing the race's position as one of Flemington's most important spring contests. Winx won consecutive editions in 2017 and 2018, while Makybe Diva captured the race in 2005 before completing her historic third Melbourne Cup victory later that spring.

The race has also regularly provided an important guide to the major races that follow. Gold Trip added the Turnbull to his record a year after winning the Melbourne Cup, while Via Sistina used her 2024 victory as a stepping stone to further Group 1 success later in the carnival.

Saturday's edition gives another quality field the chance to join that honour roll, with Half Yours, Sir Delius, Aeliana and Light Infantry Man among the headline runners in the 15-horse field.