Spring takes shape on TAB Turnbull Stakes Day

Turnbull victory a Cosmic Plate tune up

Pakenham-based Andrea Leek has registered her biggest success with Cosmic Crusader taking out the Group 1 TAB Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.

And Leek hopes to return to head-quarters for Australia's weight-for-age championship, the Cox Plate (2040m) with the Perth-owned galloper to chase an even bigger prize.

The Cox Plate is traditionally run at Moonee Valley, but with the track undergoing a rebuild it will this year be staged at Flemington on October 24.

Ridden by star Western Australian jockey William Pike, Cosmic Crusader ($8) appreciated the heavy conditions in running out a 1-¾ length winner from Light Infantry Man ($26) with Aeliana ($3.80) a length away third.

Cosmic Crusader had not raced beyond 1800m prior to Saturday and handled the distance rise without a query.

The Next Episode rewards Maher’s patience

While many had been questioning how The Next Episode had come up following his two-year-old season, the Ciaron Maher stable had not lost faith. That faith was vindicated on Saturday when The Next Episode took out the Group 2 Asahi Super Dry Danehill Stakes (1100m) at Flemington which in turn will set the colt on the path to the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) on October 31.

Ridden by Mark Zahra, The Next Episode ($3.30) overhauled the $2.70 favourite Natural Fling to score by a short neck with Mbube ($16) a length away third.

Maher said he was not concerned by The Next Episode's below par performances at the trials in Sydney.

He said the colt was telling him he was not ready.

"He had a couple of trials in Sydney and wasn't quite ready, so we brought him down here and he was very slick behind Jimmy (Jimmysstar)," Maher said.

"I thought we were right back on track then and I wanted to give him a look down the straight so that wouldn't be an excuse.

"We had a trial here the other day and I was mindful he blew the clock up 10 days earlier and I wanted to keep him on the bit and have him ready for today.

"Then when the rain came, it's documented that he handles that sort of track, so I wasn't concerned.

"It was a beautiful ride by Mark (Zahra), and he knew what he had underneath him.

"He rides those horses so well, when they need a bit of confidence and it's a credit to him."

Maher said he would see how The Next Episode recovers from Saturday's victory under testing conditions before deciding if the colt requires another run prior to the Coolmore Stud Stakes.

Mr Monaco secures Lexus Melbourne Cup berth

The Maher stable has secured another golden ticket into the Lexus Melbourne Cup with the victory of Mr Monaco at Flemington.

Mr Monaco took out the Group 3 The Lexus Bart Cummings (2500m) on Saturday to receive a ballot exemption into the Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 3.

Shockletz earned a ballot exemption for the Maher stable with her win in the Lexus Archer Stakes (2500m) at Flemington last month.

An acceptor also in The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday, the decision was made to send Mr Monaco to Flemington.

Under the guidance of apprentice Jabez Johnstone, Mr Monaco ($8) scored a 1-¼ length win from the $4.60 favourite Litzdeel with Valiant King ($13) a further four lengths away third.

Maher said his confidence in Mr Monaco grew after watching Juju Kibo take out The Metropolitan 15 minutes prior to The Lexus Bart Cummings.

"The horse had been a little bit out of form, but before that he and Juju Kibo had run together and with Juju winning The Metropolitan, it gave me a bit of confidence," Maher said.

"He did have good wet form, so we thought we'd send him down the highway and now he's here in Melbourne and has got a ticket.

"There's a great ownership group and now they're in the Cup.

"The next month and a bit, when you get one in the Cup is the most thrilling time for the owners.

Skybird wins Gilgai Stakes, just

Depending on when you are reading this, trainer Mitchell Freedman and favourite backers may only just have exhaled as a unique characteristic nearly brought Skybird undone in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.

Sent out the $2.90 market elect, Skybird looked set for an easy victory as jockey Ben Melham eased six-year-old mare down within metres from the line while visiting Perth jockey Austin Galati and $6 chance Smooth Chino make late ground strongly to miss by a short-half-head margin.

"She's got a big handbrake on her and when you stop, she stops," Freedman said.

"I think we were pretty lucky that the visiting rider mistimed the winning post a little bit there otherwise he might have got over the top of us.

"Anyway, we'll take the win. We're relieved and we're happy to get the win.

Skybird broke a 19-month drought in the winners' circle since her last win in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington in February 2025.

"She was well placed by the team and they've done a great john prepping her up off the back of the Queensland campaign and we're thrilled to get back in the winners' circle with her because she's had a fair few hard luck stories since that Lightning Stakes win," Freedman added.

The ultimate aim for Skybird is the Group 1 VRC Champions Sprint (1200m) on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival but the path in between this race and then is still undecided.

Saintly Dancer strolls home in Edward Manifold

The heavy track conditions were of no concern for Saintly Dancer who went on to register a six-length victory in the Group 2 TAB ONE POOL Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m).

The Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) on Caulfield Cup Day will be the filly’s next assignment after Ethan Brown led all-the-way on the three-year-old.

Trainer Ciaron Maher said Saintly Dancer was a light filly, one that was very fit, but conceded he did not see the three-year-old demolishing the field like she did.

“God, that was impressive,” Maher said.

“She looked really comfortable in the run and Ethan had her in a lovely rhythm.

“The Ballarat team has done a good job as she doesn’t carry a lot of weight, but she seems to do better up there.

“First Light, they’ve got another really nice chance heading to the (Thousand) Guineas.

“I was in two minds whether to go there but if there is a bit of juice in the track, you’d seriously have to consider it on the back of that.”

Maher said Saintly Dancer was likely to be joined in the Thousand Guineas by Platinum Pearl and Over The Bridge.

Straight experience beneficial for McArdle filly

Mornington trainer John McArdle took advantage of giving Musandam a look at the Flemington straight before the filly made her debut in the Listed Darley Maribyrnong Trial Stakes (1000m).

That experience in a jump-out last Thursday week helped iron out a few niggles the filly had shown in previous work.

“Five of the six had been down the straight before,” McArdle said.

“It certainly helps. We were a bit green in that jump-out being out wide, but today, having the speed to get to the rail, it was very advantageous.”

McArdle said Musandam was likely to head to the spelling paddock for a break with a discussion to be had between the trainer, jockey Jamie Mott and the filly’s ownership group.

The Magic Millions 2YO Classic on the Gold Coast in January or the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield the following month will form part of those discussions.

“She’s a valuable filly now,” McArdle said.

“She’s a half to a Group 1 winner (Qafila), she’s by a champion stallion, she’s a good type and she’s a stakes winner as a two-year-old at her first start.”

Miss Waititi shows Oaks potential

Having lost Group 1 prospect Guest House earlier in the day due to a hamstring injury, Miss Waititi emerged as a replacement at the highest level for the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr team with her win in the Listed Howden Super Impose Stakes (1800m).

Miss Waititi had been a maiden performer before registering a 2-½ length win against the ‘boys’ and establishing her staying credentials with the Crown Oaks (2500m) next month the goal.

The daughter of Circus Maximus was having her third race start having been purchased by Price and Kent Jnr through New Zealand bloodstock agent Phil Cataldo.

“We probably look at four or five a month and probably buy one, it’s not easy,” Price said.

“At least, it is going to the Oaks. We’ve plotted a course and we went to the 1800 (metres) because I thought the Edward Manifold might be a bit sharp for her.

“I don’t reckon she’s a tough filly, and I see they always run in the Wakeful into the Oaks.

“Not every filly does, and I know it is a proven formula, but you’ve got the Ethereal on Caulfield Cup Day as well.

“So, we’ll see which course we take.”

A Stylish win

The Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will and JD Hayes were looking at another doomsday scenario after barriers were drawn for the Group 2 Cirka Rose Of Kingston Stakes (1400m).

JD Hayes said the team had blamed a draw towards the outside when Stylish was defeated at Caulfield on September 19.

And when the mare drew barrier 16 in Saturday’s contest, the team was far from happy.

STYLISH strides away with the Group 2 Rose Of Kingston Stakes🌹

Two in a row for Ethan Brown 🥇🥇@Brown_ethan8 @LindsayParkRace pic.twitter.com/fBlCgpXnB1

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 3, 2026

“There were a few expletives dropped,” Hayes said.

“She has been very unlucky with her barrier draws and she was unlucky last start. She would have won if she had a better barrier.”

With nine scratchings due to the heavy track conditions, the wide draw was not as pronounced for Stylish who was given a gun ride by Ethan Brown.

“Very decisive,” Hayes said.

“He went forward and she began so quickly. She’s rock hard fit, deep into her campaign, so the plan worked out nicely.”

Cote Atlantique back in winning form

Cote Atlantique has been here, there and everywhere throughout his career and can add a Flemington win to his record having won the Listed HKJC World Pool Paris Lane Stakes (1400m).

The Henry Dwyer-trained galloper started his career in Ireland with Joseph O’Brien and in his second campaign for Dwyer took out the Seymour Cup, just shy of 12 months to the day.

Since that victory, Dwyer has travelled Cote Atlantique to New Zealand, Brisbane and Adelaide, and while not successful, he has raced consistently.

“He’s run in an eclectic bunch of races this prep,” Dwyer said.

“We started in the King’s Plate in New Zealand. He’s been to Brisbane, he’s been to Adelaide, he’s been everywhere man.

“He deserved the win which he hadn’t had this preparation.

“A lot of those horses that you get from the Joseph O’Brien's and those trainers over there, they are just so used to the travel.

“They are immune from really having any issues with travel. They just take it in their stride, so there is no issue going to New Zealand or Queensland.

“We paid a lot of money for this horse and he will repay us, I’m sure. He’s got a good Group 1 handicap win in him, and I think he’s going to end up a good horse.”