Kings Will Dream is now a Group 1 winner after claiming Saturday’s time-honoured Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.

The Irish import was third-up after running eighth in last fortnights Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) on the same track. The step up in distance always posed a few challenges with bookmakers listing the six-year-old at double-digit odds, but Kings Will Dream’s dazzling turn of foot did the talking down the straight to outlast a talented field.

Jockey Jye McNeil played a big part in the win tucking away nicely sixth the fence. With plenty of traffic in front, the pair found some open space down the middle of the track before blazing away over the final furlong to outlast the challenging Finche.

Kings Will Dream added to Chris Waller’s impressive collection of Group 1 winners at Flemington on Saturday. Photo Credit: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Kings Will Dream had placed in three of his four previous Group 1 starts leading into the race, most notably finishing runner-up behind Grunt in last years Makybe Diva Stakes.

The key to Saturday’s win was finding a comfortable spot early, and with the two race-favourites, Mr Quickie and Mystic Journey at the back of the pack, things couldn’t have worked out any better.

“Because they were behind me I didn’t know where they were. I was concentrating on Hartnell and trying to find his back because I knew he’d take me right to the 100m. I wasn’t able to find that path, but I was able to maneuver into the clear and fantastic job by Chris (Waller) and all the team getting this bloke back from injury,” McNeil said after the race.

For Waller, the win capped off a huge day across Flemington and Randwick. It was also the champion trainers 106^th Group 1 win, although a start in next month’s Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley is now the priority.

“It was a brilliant ride from Jye, the blinkers off today, rode him a bit more conservative today than we did in our second-up start and he timed it to perfection and he was certainly strong,” stable representative Jo Taylor said.

Waller also managed to land the quinella in the race with stablemate Finche flashing home late for second. Finche looks a serious 2019 Melbourne Cup chance now, and as the $9.00 favourite, the stable certainly appears to be heading that way.

“The main aim that Chris was really insistent was was to see the horse settle on a good rhythm and I think he did that today. He was certainly strong late and I think it’s onwards and upwards to the Melbourne Cup for a horse like him,” Taylor went on to say.

As for Kings Will Dream, the six-year-old has already firmed from $34.00 into $21.00 with Ladbrokes.com.au in pre-field Melbourne Cup betting.

Finche also holds a nomination for the 2019 Ladbrokes Cox Plate and can be had at $26.00 with the race sponsor Ladbrokes.com.au.

2019 Turnbull Stakes Results & Finishing Order