Turnbull Stakes: Romantic Warrior draws out for Australian debut

The Group 1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington on Saturday will showcase the Australian debut of Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior.

The multiple Group 1 winner and his jockey James McDonald will have to overcome a double-digit gate (11) to win.

Romantic Warrior, fellow Northern Hemisphere raider West Wind Blows and another eight imported gallopers will be attempting to become the sixth Northern Hemisphere-bred galloper to win the race.

In final field betting, Romantic Warrior opened at $2.50 with TAB but was quickly backed into $2.25.

At 12.30pm on Wednesday, West Wind Blows ($8), Soulcombe ($8.50) and Osipenko ($6.50) are the only runners at single-figure odds.

The Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) will be run at 4.25pm on Saturday.

No. – Horse – Trainer – Jockey – Barrier – Weight1 – ROMANTIC WARRIOR – Danny Shum – James McDonald – 11 – 59kg

2 – GOLD TRIP – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace – Mark Zahra – 18 – 58kg

3 – SMOKIN‘ ROMANS – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace – Jamie Mott – 17 – 58kg

4 – FRANCESCO GUARDI – Chris Waller – Damian Lane – 7 – 57kg

5 – WEST WIND BLOWS – Simon & Ed Crisford – Jamie Spencer – 8 – 56.5kg6 – EMISSARY – Michael Moroney – Jamie Kah – 5 – 56kg7 – OSIPENKO – Chris Waller – Damien Oliver – 6 – 56kg8 – UNCLE BRYN – Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young – Daniel Moor – 1 – 56kg9 – BERKELEY SQUARE – Dan O‘Sullivan – Harry Coffey – 14 – 56kg10 – BANK MAUR – Richard Laming – Craig Newitt – 4 – 56kg11 – SOULCOMBE – Chris Waller – Craig Williams – 2 – 56kg12 – DUKE DE SESSA – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace – John Allen – 12 – 56kg13 – SPANISH MISSION – Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman – 10 – 55kg14 – EL BODEGON – Chris Waller – Ben Melham – 9 – 55kg15 – RIGHT YOU ARE – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace – 16 – 55kg16 – LUNAR FLARE – Grahame Begg – Michael Dee – 15 – 54kg17e – EL PATRONESS – Danny O‘Brien – Jye McNeil – 3 – 53kg

18e – GOLDMAN – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott – Jordan Childs – 13 – 55kg