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Cosmic Crusader won the 2026 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington on a heavy track. The result, the final field, how our tip went and the race history are below.
Turnbull Stakes tips, best bets, field & odds. Below is our complete Turnbull Stakes guide: race details, history and past winners, lead-in form, betting markets and FAQs. The 2026 result, the final field and how our tip went are below.
The Turnbull Stakes is a $750,000 Group 1 weight-for-age contest over 2000m at Flemington, run on the first Saturday of October. It is the traditional opener of Flemington’s spring Group 1 program and a key form pointer into the Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup. This guide covers the Turnbull Stakes dates, distance, prize money, betting markets and our full race-day tips. For the full carnival, see our Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival guide.
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Turnbull Stakes Race Details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Distance | 2000m |
| Class | Group 1 Weight-for-Age |
| Age / Conditions | Three-year-olds and upwards |
| Venue | Flemington, Melbourne |
| Prize Money | $750,000 |
| Run Date | Saturday 3 October 2026 (Turnbull Stakes Day) |
Turnbull Stakes History & Winners
Recent winners include Cosmic Crusader (2026), Sir Delius (2025), Via Sistina (2024), Gold Trip (2023), Smokin’ Romans (2022), Incentivise (2021) and Verry Elleegant (2020). Many Turnbull winners have gone on to Cox Plate or Melbourne Cup success. Most famously Incentivise, who won the Turnbull before taking out the Caulfield Cup three weeks later.
Lead-In Races
The main lead-ins are the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington and the Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m).
Turnbull Stakes Betting Markets
All major Australian bookmakers price the Turnbull Stakes weeks out, with a full acceptances market released after the final field is declared. The core markets are:
- Fixed-Odds Win & Place: the bread-and-butter markets, with early speculative prices followed by final acceptances pricing.
- Each-Way: typically 1/4 the odds for a place (1-2-3).
- Exotics: quinella, exacta, trifecta and First 4. See our First 4 calculator guide.
- Same Race Multis: combine multiple runners from the same race into one bet. See our Same Race Multi guide.
- Head-to-Head & Group Markets: runner-vs-runner matchups and stable/country markets.
🏆 Result: Cosmic Crusader ($8, Andrea Leek, William Pike) won the 2026 Turnbull Stakes on a Heavy 8 track by 1.75 lengths from Light Infantry Man, with Aeliana third and the favourite Sir Delius fourth.
Turnbull Stakes 2026 Result
| Pos | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Cosmic Crusader (NZ) | William Pike | Andrea Leek | $8 |
| 2nd | Light Infantry Man (FR) | Harry Coffey | Ciaron Maher | $26 |
| 3rd | Aeliana (NZ) | Damian Lane | Chris Waller | $3.80 |
| 4th | Sir Delius (GB) | Craig Williams | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | $3 fav |
How our tip went. Half right. Our each-way pick Cosmic Crusader won at $8, so that bet paid in full. Sir Delius, our main pick and the $3 favourite, finished fourth, beaten 3.5 lengths. We flagged the heavy track as the risk on Friday, and it was a stamina test: the last 600m took 37.36 seconds. Half Yours, last year’s Cups double winner, was fifth.
Turnbull Stakes 2026: Final Field, Barriers and Best Bet
Fifteen accepted for Race 8 at 4:25pm on Saturday 3 October. Soul Of Spain and Deakin have been scratched to run in the Metropolitan, leaving 13. The track has changed completely: Flemington was Good 3 at acceptances and was rated Heavy 9 on Friday after 52mm of rain in 24 hours, with more falling.
| No. | Horse | Barrier | Weight | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Half Yours | 14 | 59kg | Jamie Melham | Tony & Calvin McEvoy |
| 2 | Sir Delius (GB) | 9 | 59kg | Craig Williams | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 3 | Light Infantry Man (FR) | 3 | 58kg | Harry Coffey | Ciaron Maher |
| 4 | Cosmic Crusader (NZ) | 4 | 58kg | William Pike | Andrea Leek |
| 5 | Aeliana (NZ) | 2 | 57kg | Damian Lane | Chris Waller |
| 6 | Asterix (NZ) | 11 | 56.5kg | Ben Melham | Chris Waller |
| 7 | Zahrann (IRE) | 1 | 56.5kg | Ethan Brown | Ciaron Maher |
| 8 | Ohope Wins (NZ) | 5 | 56kg | Blake Shinn | Chris Waller |
| 9 | Middle Earth (GB) | 6 | 56kg | Mark Zahra | Ciaron Maher |
| 10 | Soul Of Spain (IRE) (scratched) | 15 | 56kg | Beau Mertens | Chris Waller |
| 11 | Buckaroo (GB) | 8 | 55kg | Jye McNeil | Chris Waller |
| 12 | She’s A Hustler (NZ) | 7 | 55kg | Jordan Childs | Grahame Begg |
| 13 | Saint George (GB) | 13 | 55kg | Michael Dee | Ciaron Maher |
| 14 | Deakin (FR) (scratched) | 12 | 55kg | Lachlan Neindorf | Phillip & Tommy Stokes |
| 15 | Kings Valley (IRE) | 10 | 55kg | Lachlan Neindorf | Ciaron Maher |
Our best bet: Sir Delius (barrier 9), with Cosmic Crusader each-way. The defending champion won this race last year at $7.00 for Gai Waterhouse, Adrian Bott and Craig Williams, and has the same combination. His last start was fourth in the Makybe Diva over 1600m, a lead-up short of his best trip, and the step back to 2000m is the point of the exercise. Cosmic Crusader ran second as favourite in the Underwood over 1800m last start and draws barrier 4. The heavy track is the caution: a Heavy 9 Flemington turns a 2000m weight-for-age race into a stamina test, so check each runner’s wet-track form before you bet and expect the market to move on Saturday morning.
The name in the field is Half Yours, who completed the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup double last spring with Jamie Melham. He starts his spring here with 59kg from barrier 14.
How to Watch the Turnbull Stakes in Australia
The Turnbull Stakes headlines Turnbull Stakes Day at Flemington on the first Saturday of October, opening the track’s spring Group 1 program. Coverage is shown live on Sky Racing (Sky Thoroughbred Central / Sky Racing 1 and 2) and streamed on Racing.com, and most major bookmakers carry a free live stream of the race for account holders with a balance or a bet on the day. For more carnival action, see our Caulfield Cup tips and Cox Plate tips, or browse all our horse racing tips and previews.
Best Bookmakers for the Turnbull Stakes
For a full comparison of the top Australian racing bookmakers, see our best horse racing betting sites in Australia guide.
#AD 18+ T&Cs Apply Imagine what you could be buying instead. For free & confidential support call 180 0858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
#AD 18+ T&Cs Apply Imagine what you could be buying instead. For free & confidential support call 180 0858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
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Turnbull Stakes FAQs
When is the Turnbull Stakes?
The Turnbull Stakes is run on the first Saturday of October at Flemington Racecourse.
What distance is the Turnbull Stakes?
The Turnbull Stakes is run over 2000m at Flemington.
Is the Turnbull Stakes a handicap?
No. The Turnbull Stakes is run at weight-for-age.
How much is the Turnbull Stakes worth?
The Turnbull Stakes carries $750,000 in total prize money.
Who has won the Turnbull Stakes recently?
The last five winners are Cosmic Crusader (2026), Sir Delius (2025), Via Sistina (2024), Gold Trip (2023) and Smokin’ Romans (2022).
How can I watch the Turnbull Stakes live?
The Turnbull Stakes is broadcast live on Sky Racing and streamed via Racing.com, with most major Australian bookmakers offering a free live stream for eligible account holders.
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