With the AFL Grand Final now concluded, Melbourne’s racing focus shifts to Flemington for what is considered a pivotal day in the spring racing carnival.
The Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) on Saturday is particularly significant, as it often dictates the fortunes of horses later in the spring season.
The 2024 victor, Via Sistina, went on to secure the Cox Plate that year, and Smokin’ Romans, the year prior, was the Caulfield Cup favourite after his Turnbull triumph.
Incentivise (2021) and Verry Elleegant (2020) both claimed the Caulfield Cup following their respective Turnbull victories, while the mighty Winx (2017-2018) won the Turnbull en route to Cox Plate glory.
Sir Delius triumphed in last year’s Turnbull and was a leading contender for the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup before scans revealed an elevated injury risk, ruling him out of those major races.
Half Yours, who finished fourth in last year’s Turnbull, went on to win both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. Ciaron Maher is now aiming to emulate that success with Zahrann, who, like Half Yours, won the Naturalism Stakes before contesting the Turnbull.
A win in the Naturalism Stakes at Caulfield on September 19 granted Zahrann automatic entry into the Caulfield Cup on October 17, and Maher expressed his satisfaction with following the same trajectory as Half Yours.
“That was the path we had set out for him,” Maher said.
“He was only second up (in the Naturalism), he’s a colt, and if he can go to the Turnbull and run well, and win, even better.
“He’s a Night Of Thunder colt, so if he was able to win at Flemington, it would be ideal.”
Zahrann is one of five contenders Maher has entered for Saturday’s race.
Also running for Maher are Light Infantry Man, Middle Earth, Saint George, and Kings Valley.
Saint George finished second to Zahrann at Caulfield in their last outing, with Kings Valley coming in seventh in the same event.
“Saint George was super the other day, Kings Valley was super also,” Maher commented.
“Kings Valley has improvement to come, looks wise, and ability wise, and I think he can.
“George, with three kilos more, was, facts and figures wise, as good, or better.”
Middle Earth is preparing for the Turnbull after a seventh-place finish in the Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on September 19, with Maher noting his steady progress. Light Infantry Man, who was eighth behind Sheza Alibi in the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 12, is expected to benefit from the increased distance.
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