The Wizard of Odds goes through the runner-by-runner preview of the Group 1 Weight-for-Age Turnbull Stakes at Flemington.
Will Verry Elleegant defend her crown?
#1 Sir Dragonet
Ciaron Maher & Dave Eustace
Ran a huge race when resuming in the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m).
He scorched home with some blistering late sectionals from the back of the field in a sign that he has returned to his best form which saw him win the Cox Plate in 2020.
Probably wants the track to have a little bit of give in it, but he is a genuine top four hope.
Odds: $8.5 the win and $2 the place
Finishing position: Fourth
#2 Explosive Jack
Ciaron Maher & Dave Eustace
Got too far back when resuming in the Makybe Diva Stakes and this is probably a bit too short of the distances he will thrive at.
He will be aimed at the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup.
Look out for him to be hitting the line late in the race.
Odds: $34 the win and $5 the place
Finishing position: Sixth
#3 Incentivise
Peter Moody
The new rockstar of Australian Group 1 racing.
He took out the Makybe Diva Stakes after a brilliant display of sustained speed saw him lead from start to finish.
Peter Moody will clearly have a heap improvement left for this galloper as he targets the big staying races.
The current Caulfield and Melbourne Cup favourite and for good reason too.
He maps to be ahead of Verry Elleegant in the run, but might just be a run or two short to run to his peak.
Odds: $2.80 the win
Finishing position: Third
#4 Verry Elleegant
Chris Waller
The defending Turnbull Stakes champion.
Verry Elleegant could not have come back any better into her spring campaign after crushing the line when resuming in the Winx Stakes (1400m) and then following that up with an incredible win in the George Main Stakes (1600m).
She is using the exact same path into this race that she took last year and it could be argued that she is in better form than her 2020 spring campaign.
Damian Lane rides her from barrier five and she will be the one chasing down Incentivise.
Odds: $2.30
Finishing position: First
#5 Johnny Get Angry
Denis Pagan
The 2020 Victoria Derby winner has two duck eggs next to his name on the form guide.
Resumed in a sprint up the straight over 1200 metres which is well short of his best, and was then gapped by six lengths in the Makybe Diva Stakes.
Tough to see him getting anywhere near the top two, however he gets up to a more suitable distance.
Odds: $251 the win and $24 the place.
Finishing position: Last
#6 Chapada
Mike Moroney
Simply outclassed in this field.
Would be a shock if he ran a place let alone win.
Odds: $126 the win and $15 the place
Finishing position: Ninth
#7 Persan
Ciaron Maher & Dave Eustace
Ran well when finishing one-and-a-half lengths off stablemate Floating Artist who is flying at the moment.
Had to lug around the 61kgs, but was hitting the line nicely late over 1700 metres at Flemington.
This race is the toughest he will contest outside of the Melbourne Cup.
He will get the bludge run from barrier one and is some hope to place.
Odds: $19 the win and $3.3 the place
Finishing position: Fifth
#8 Colette
James Cummings
She will be doing a rain dance all week and will probably get her wish with the forecast weather in Melbourne looking quite grim.
The five-year-old mare has drawn wide barriers at her two resuming runs and has been snicked back in each of them.
Barrier seven provides her with an opportunity to find a role closer to the speed and the wet track is going to suit her perfectly.
She is a massive chance to knock off the twop two should the rain come.
Odds: $8.5 the win and $1.85 the place
Finishing position: Second
#9 Mount Popa
Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
Has started long odds at each of runs in the Winx Stakes and Makybe Diva Stakes.
Hard to get enthused by what he has produced so far this preparation and he maps in no man’s land from barrier nine.
Odds: $41 the win and $6 the place
Finishing position: Eighth
#10 Young Werther
Danny O'Brien
Gets the in-form jockey of the Group 1 races in Daniel Moor.
His resuming run in the same race as Persan was fantastic after he smashed the line when being strangle-held to the rear half of the field.
On the minimum weight and will be running home strongly in the last 200 metres.
Probably not a winning chance, but one to follow later in the spring.
Odds: $26 the win and $5.5 the place
Finishing position: Seventh
