Iconic Chris Waller continued his stranglehold on Melbourne’s Group 1 $1 million Turnbull Stakes (2000m) securing his sixth win in 10 years preparing this year’s thrilling first two with Via Sistina narrowly accounting for her Underwood Stakes winning stablemate Buckaroo.

The 2024 Turnbull Stakes results at Flemington went down to the wire with a late charge from Waller’s now four-time Group 1 winning daughter of Fastnet Rock seeing her hold out Buckaroo in an improved effort on her lead-up fifth to Mr Brightside in the Makybe Diva Stakes over the mile.

Relishing the step-up in distance third-up and fit the Damian Lane-ridden seven-year-old made it two from three this campaign with Via Sistina showing her versatility fresh winning Sydney’s Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m).

The autumn’s Ranvet Stakes winner added another feather to her bow in her first Flemington victory when charging home the closing stages in a stride-for-stride battle with Buckaroo to salute by a neck on the line.

The Joao Moreira-ridden Buckaroo was also huge chasing a hat-trick after a win fresh in the Chelmsford before a 3.5 length surprise success in Caulfield’s Group 2 Underwood Stakes (1800m).

The six-year-old franked that form and showed it was no fluke when making up some 10 lengths to come right down the outside to challenge before settling for a brave second.

In third to complete the Turnbull Stakes trifecta 1.7 lengths off the winner losing few admirers was the beaten Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained favourite Eliyass who, from a wide draw, went hard early to settle right up on speed before holding for the minor placing.

“She was fantastic today. Her run last start was so far away from her true form that you could do nothing else other than put a pen through it,” Waller’s stable representative Charlie Duckworth said of Via Sistina post-race.

“So we were confident that she would bounce back today and she was tough.

“Obviously, Buckaroo is the man on the scene at the moment. He was going for three wins in a row, and he’s dug deep and still been narrowly denied. So fantastic for the whole team.

“To perform like that, it’s pretty special for everyone involved with her.

“Fantastic for Yulong because they really stump up every time and they’ve got an absolute diamond.”

Waller’s ill-fated Verry Elleegant backed up from her 2020 Turnbull triumph to win the Group 1 Caulfield Cup at her next start.

Via Sistina could now be Caulfield Cup 2024 bound targeting the $5 million classic on October 19.

The latest all-in Caulfield Cup markets at Ladbrokes.com.au – available in full here – have Via Sistina at $21 with Buckaroo now the equal $7 favourite.

Duckworth however said sticking to the 2000m distance and targeting the Group 1 $5 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) on October 26 at Moonee Valley could be the trick.

“It is a tricky one. Obviously, Ozzie Kheir and Qatar with Sheikh Fahad and David Redvers will make a decision whether they want to rematch around The Valley,” he said.

“He did make it pretty tough for her, or whether we step up to a mile and a half.

“We won’t worry about that today. We’ll just enjoy the win and enjoy the placings.

“Obviously, her 2,000 metre performance at the end of the carnival last year was fantastic.

“So that’s certainly in her sort of copy book and we’ll plot a path towards that.”

Current Cox Plate 2024 odds at race sponsor Ladbrokes.com.au have Via Sistina as one of the single figure hopes at $6 and Buckaroo at $11.

Click here for the latest Cox Plate markets.

2024 Turnbull Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

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