Saturday preview: six things to keep an eye on

G1 Turnbull S. - quality performers

Always a highlight of the early Melbourne spring, the G1 Turnbull S. is a race with a rich and varied history. First run in the 1860s as the Royal Park S. it was a principal event contested over the G1 Melbourne Cup distance of 16 furlongs.

From 1865 to 1948 it was run as a weight-for-age race, since then as a set weights and penalties contest.

It has been run over a variety of distances; sometimes a bit shorter and for some time over only eight furlongs; its current 2000 metres decided upon in 1971 when it was won by the grand campaigner Igloo (NZ) (Arctic Explorer {GB}).

Upgraded to its Group 1 status in 2006, the Turnbull whatever sort of race it has been has always been contested and won by topliners.

Right back to the early days when it was taken out by the likes of The Barb and Tim Whiffler and into the next century - Eurythmic, Manfred, Amounis (Magpie {GB}), Hall Mark, Ajax, Bernborough and Comic Court all on the honour roll during the first half of the 1900s.

The next couple of decades saw some high-class winners as well - namely Rising Fast (NZ) (Alonzo {GB}), Redcraze (NZ) (Red Mars {GB}), Aquanita, Tobin Bronze, Galilee (NZ) (Alcimedes {GB}), Leilani (NZ) (Oncidium {GB}) and Dulcify (NZ) (Decies {GB}).

And there has been no going backwards for the Turnbull, since that time won by the likes of Vo Rogue (Ivor Prince {USA}), Super Impose (NZ) (Imposing), Better Loosen Up (Loosen Up {USA}), Let's Elope (NZ) (Nassipour {USA}), Sunline (NZ) (Desert Sun {GB}), Northerly (Serheed {USA}), Makybe Diva (GB) (Desert King {Ire}), Winx (Street Cry {Ire}), Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) and last year in stunning style by the previous year's Cup hero Gold Trip (Fr).

A field of 16 have accepted for this year's running, a race which sees a trio of talented imports vying for favouritism; the last-start runaway G1 Underwood S. winner Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet Rock), the G1 Winx S. winner Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) who didn't seem to relish the heavy going when out of the placings as favourite in the G1 Makybe Diva S. last time out and the G3 Kingston Town S. winner Eliyass (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}).

Warmonger (NZ) (War Decree {USA}) is going to have fans on the back of his strong-finishing fourth behind Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) and Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) in the Makybe Diva.

Place Du Carrousel (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) was a little agitated before the running of the G1 Underwood S. in which she was favourite so it will be interesting to monitor her behaviour on Saturday.

The Turnbull is very often a good guide to future spring success with in recent times likes of Elvstroem, Makybe Diva (GB) (Desert King {Ire}), Zipping (Danehill {USA}), Green Moon (Ire), Winx (Street Cry {Ire}), Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) and Incentivise (Shamus Award) holding up their winning form from Flemington.

And last year's fourth home has not been beaten since, Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) winning five Group 1 races in three different countries.

G1 Epsom H. - history at the mile

It is an open edition of one of Australia's favourite mile handicaps, a race crammed full of history having been won by some of the greats of the turf.

First contested in 1865, it was added to what was then the AJC Derby program; the race named in honour of the home to that Classic's famed UK counterpart.

What an outstanding honour roll it boasts, those with an Epsom on their record including Nightmarch (NZ), Sky High, Shannon, Noholme, Gunsynd, Racing To Win (Encosta de Lago), Winx and of course those horses who always comes to mind when thinking of the Randwick mile, the mighty Super Impose (NZ) (Imposing).

That gallant chestnut is one of the seven horses to have won two Epsoms with the others including Amounis (Magpie {GB}), Chatham and Desert War (Desert King {Ire}). This is a feat that Rediener (Redoute's Choice) seeks to accomplish.

And he is a decent chance to do so, so tough finishing on the heels of the placegetters off a wide run when resuming in the G2 Theo Marks S.

When saluting last year, he became Chris Waller's fifth Epsom winner, and that trainer is represented by another six runners this year with the most strongly fancied of those being Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) who seeks to go one better having run a fast-finishing and somewhat unlucky second last year.

Another three horses are contesting consecutive Epsoms; Democracy Manifest (Flying Artie) who was good to the line finishing fifth after finding some trouble in running, My Oberon (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) who was an honest close up seventh and Nugget (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) who did it very tough out wide from barrier 19 (11 this time).

Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) has plenty of admirers having made an instant mark on Australian racing whilst Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) is expected to be suited back to the mile. And Tom Kitten (Harry Angel {Ire}) looks nicely placed up in distance.

G1 Flight S. - Redoute's Choice hits back

This could be a good race for the Redoute's Choice sireline, his up-and-coming son The Autumn Sun denied an opportunity with the scratching of Autumn Glow but still well-represented by the promising Snow In May.

Her fast-finishing second (recording the day's fastest final 200-metre split) to Autumn Glow in the G2 Tea Rose S. looks the right form for this.

Snitzel is also well-represented; by Lady Shenandoah who was too good for the boys in the G3 Ming Dynasty H. and by Lazzura who was just behind the placegetters in the Tea Rose.

The sireline boasts a good record in the race though it has been a while since its last winner; Streama (Stratum) in 2011. Between 2004 and 2008 there had been a winning streak for daughters of Redoute's Choice; wins for Lotteria, Fashions Afield, Cheeky Choice and Samantha Miss.

The two Snitzels are both members of the Chris Waller stable and this is a race he has won on two occasions: with Zougotcha (Zoustar) two years ago and with Funstar (Adelaide {Ire}) in 2019.

The Flight's honour roll is a strong one, won by such outstanding fillies as Wenona Girl (Wilkes {Fr}), Cap D'Antibes (Better Boy {Ire}), Bounding Away (Biscay), Research (Imperial Prince {ire}), Triscay (Marscay), Slight Chance (NZ) (Centaine), Sunline (NZ) (Desert Sun {GB}), Samantha Miss (Redoute's Choice), More Joyous (NZ) (More Than Ready {USA}) and Guelph (Exceed And Excel).

Also of interest is that 24 winners of this race went on to produce stakes winners with eight of those represented by Group 1 winners including La Caissiere (Luskin Star) whose G1 Thousand Guineas-winning daughter Dashing Eagle (Danehill {USA}) also won the Flight, 13 years after her dam's success.

G1 Metropolitan H. - an open contest

One of Australia's oldest races, always contested as a principal race and since 1979 as a Group 1, the Metropolitan H. is often an open race and that is certainly the case this year with five of its contestants opening at single-figure odds with many chances beyond them.

Ciaron Maher saddles up two runners in his quest to win his first Metropolitan with Future History (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) a major contender whose two runs this time in have been full of merit.

Chris Waller also has multiple runners; three of his six being emergencies and one of those; the up-and-coming stayer Unusual Legacy (NZ) (Unusual Suspect {USA}) is well-fancied on the back of consistent form.

He also saddles up a couple of last-start Group 3 winners, the Newcastle Gold Cup winner Etna Rosso (Ire) (Decorated Knight {GB}) and the Colin Stephen Quality winner First Light (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).

Three of last year's Metropolitan runners line up again; the topweight Kalapour (Ire) (War Command {USA}) who boxed on well for third, Military Mission (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) who was a tough fourth off a wide run from an outside gate (18 last year, 1 this time) and Cleveland (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) who also covered ground, drawn even worse this year.

Gai Waterhouse is well known for her great record in this race, and she partnered with Adrian Bott to win it last year with Just Fine (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). The duo have Military Mission this year as well as Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who stuck on well after making the pace in the G3 Kingston Town S. first-up.

The 2-year-olds - black-type action in Sydney and Melbourne

Racegoers will want to be at Randwick and Flemington early with three of Saturday's most interesting races being those early on the cards; the G3 Breeders' Plate, the G3 Gimcrack S. and the Listed Maribyrnong Trial S. for the juveniles.

Run since the early 1900s and won by the likes of Heroic, Sky High, Eskimo Prince (Todman), Luskin Star, Choisir, Snitzel, Sebring, Pierro, Vancouver and Capitalist, the Breeders' Plate is a good guide to big 2-year-old race success.

Two seven-figure yearling purchases by Zoustar take their place on Saturday including the early favourite Tuscany, a Randwick-Kensington trial-winning full brother to the dual Group winner Schwarz. He fetched $1.55 million at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale whilst Valedictorian out of the Group 3 mare Lady Cosmology (Universal Ruler) is bigger odds having been unplaced in his trial.

Ole Kirk (King Kirk) and Farnan (North England) are both represented by their first runners.

The Gimcrack S. also has first-season sire representation; Luma Light (Earthlight {Ire}), O'Ole (Ole Kirk) and Sequel (Cool Aza Beel). Early favourite in that race is Icarian Dream (Blue Point {Ire}), a Randwick-Kensington trial-winning $300,000 Magic Millions purchase out of a daughter of the Group 1 mare Recurring (NZ) (Pentire {GB}).

First run in 1978, the Listed Maribyrnong Trial S. down the Flemington straight has been a very good guide to future success with 26 of its 50 winners (it has been on numerous occasions been run in two divisions) going on to again win at stakes level and of those seven were Group 1 winners... Sepoy, Sports (Zeditave), Flavour (Rubiton), Danzero, Canny Lad and Star Shower all making their debut in this race whilst Redelva (Romantic Hope) was having his second start.

The aptly named Price Tag (Zoustar) is the most expensive purchase amongst this year's runners, the $600,000 Inglis Easter graduate being the first foal for the Group 3 and dual Listed winner Humma Humma (Denman). The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained filly has won a Mornington jump-out and was second in a Flemington heat to Shining Smile (Spirit Of Boom) who also debuts here.

Also showing ability in Flemington jump-outs is Sisstainable (I Am Invincible), a $450,000 Magic Millions yearling whose Group 3-winning dam Sisstar (Zoustar) is a full sister to Sunlight (Zoustar). Early favourite in the race is another Flemington jump-out winner in Rumble Town (Microphone), a $130,000 Magic Millions buy from the family of Belle Du Jour (Dehere {USA}).

The sprinters - the G2 Premiere S., the G2 Gilgai S. and the Listed Paris Lane S.

There is plenty of fast action for fans of the sprinters on Saturday with a couple of Group 2 events and a Listed race.

Last year's G2 Premiere S. was won by subsequent The Everest winner Think About It (So You Think {NZ}) who attempts to become just the third dual winner of this race; the others being Joanne (Marscay) in 1991 and 1992 and Mr Innocent in 1999 and 2000.

He is strongly fancied to take out the double though he again takes on the terrific mare Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) who seems to be in even better form than she was when third in this race last year. Sure also to prove hard to beat is Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) who has trialled well since his first-up G3 Concorde S. fifth.

The G2 Gilgai S., registered as the Baguette S., is a race with a number of high-class sprinters on its honour roll; namely Campaign King, Placid Ark (Arkenstone), Hareeba (Al Hareb {USA}), Chautauqua (Encosta De Lago) and Sunlight.

This year's field is an open one with half the field opening at single-figure odds. A bold first-up showing is expected from Magic Time (Hellbent) off her Cranbourne jump-out victory whilst the form from the G2 Bobbie Lewis S. over the same trip should hold up nicely; Arkansaw Kid (Harry Angel {Ire}) showing good fight taking out that race.

There is form from around the country, making it an interesting race with Chain Of Lightning (Fighting Sun) a Group 1 winner in Sydney whilst Sghirripa (Lonhro) has fared well in Adelaide as has Ripcord (Written By) in Perth.

Earlier in the day sees the running of the Listed Paris Lane S. over 1400 metres, a handicap which sees the topweight Royal Champion (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}) well-fancied at his Australian debut. His best form is over longer trips but a recent jump-out victory at Cranbourne impressed.

Jigsaw (Manhattan Rain) has also jumped out well and has a good fresh record and adding considerable interest to the race right down the bottom is the promising Plenty Of Ammo (Rebel Raider) who has tasted defeat just once in five starts.