Happy To Be Back

HAPPY TO BE BACK 
The G1 Turnbull S. is a traditional stepping stone to some of the most prestigious contests of the Melbourne Spring carnival, and this year’s lineup certainly confirms that reputation, with two past winners, a Melbourne Cup winner and the G1 Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup favorites in the field. Happy Trails (Aus) (Good Journey) was a longshot winner of this 12 months ago, but proved that effort was no fluke when beaten a half-head in second in the G1 Cox Plate three weeks later. The 7-year-old gelding was forced to sit out the autumn with a pastern injury, and finished an encouraging second in the G1 Underwood S. third- up Sept. 20. Green Moon (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) won this in 2012 en route to his Melbourne Cup score, and while he has not won since, he is never too far away in these types of contests. He will, however, have to overcome a wide barrier. Only two horses have won this from a double-digit gate since 2002. 

Last season’s resounding G1 Sydney Cup hero The Offer (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) looks to use this as a stepping stone to providing his sire his second Melbourne Cup winner in three years, and his trainer, Gai Waterhouse, with a double in Australia’s great race. The 5-year-old has been steadily working up to his optimum distance this prep, having finished fifth on seasonal debut in the G2 Dato Tan Chin Nam S. Sept. 6 and ninth in the G1 Underwood S. Sept. 20. Last season’s triple Group 1-winning mare Silent Achiever (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) has needed her two starts this season–fourth in the G1 Memsie S. Aug 30 and fifth in the Underwood–and she could prove hard to beat stepping up in trip again. 

Early Caulfield Cup favorite Lucia Valentina (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}), winner of last season’s G1 Vinery Stud S. over this distance, gets up to 12 pounds from her elder rivals. The 4-year-old was a smart comeback winner of the G2 Tramway S. Sept. 6, and made up ground late after being forced wide when sixth in the G1 George Main S. Sept. 20. Lucia Valentina experienced a minor hiccup in her preparation when an abscess was discovered in her off fore days ago, but trainer Kris Lees expressed optimism she would run well.