Melbourne Cup Betting

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Chief Editor: Elliot Dean
Writer: Tim Brook
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Team Williams Turnball Triumph

The Williams camp came away from Saturday with a very successful day of racing, headlined by Green Moon's emphatic win in the Group 1 Turnball Stakes at Flemington. The six year old held off a fast finishing run from stablemate Seville, giving trainer Robert Hickmott and Team Williams an impressive quinella.

Owner Nick Williams (son of Lloyd Williams) couldn't believe his luck in such a quality field.

"You have to pinch yourself. You don't have days like this too often on a racetrack. There is still a bit to go to the ultimate but this was a fantastic result," he said.

Running one two in the big race was not the only success they enjoyed on the day. Tanby won the listed Bart Cummings while Mouryan broke through up in Sydney winning the Group 3 Craven Plate at Randwick.

Williams announced Green Moon would head to the Cox Plate in 3 weeks, with Seville heading to the Caulfield Cup in a fortnight.

December Draw's Turnball performance was one of the better in the race. Beaten only 1.7 lengths, his third placing and constant improvement this campaign sees him second favourite for the Caulfield Cup, narrowly ahead of Seville.

Gai Waterhouse stayer Glencadam Gold rocketed to favouritism in the 2400 metre Group 1 after destroying his opponents in the Metropolitan in Sydney. The five year old gelding pulled away in the straight to win by nearly four lengths, and stake his claim as a legitimate cups horse.

In other Flemington races, Mosheen continued his comeback after surgery with a big win in the Group 2 Blazer Stakes. The Robert Smerdon trained four year old out of Fastnet Rock proved too strong, winning by nearly 1.5 lengths ahead of Bonaria, Miss Stellabelle and Raspberries.

Maybe Discreet put herself into Thousand Guineas contention, sneaking home in the Edward Manifold Stakes in a photo against Members Joy who stormed home in the straight. Commanding Jewel was only half a length behind and will also make her presence felt in a week and a half at Caulfield. All three will have their work cut out against Bart Cummings trained Norzita, who won convincingly in Sydney.

The Group Two Gilgai Stakes down the straight went to Hallowell Belle, who kept her strong form going, and held off a fresh Kings Rose and Spirit of Boom.

Other winners on the day were Kuroshio, Philippi, Pronto Pronto and Fawkner.

Next weekend the action heads to Caulfield Racecourse for six Group races including the Caulfield Guineas, Toorak Handicap, Caulfield Stakes and Schillachi Stakes.