A run in the Group 1 $5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) in a fortnight is now on the cards for the progressive Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Smokin’ Romans following the galloper’s upset win in the 2022 Turnbull Stakes results at Flemington.

Smokin’ Romans is into the $5 million Caulfield Cup after an impressive 2022 Turnbull Stakes victory at Flemington. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The in-form six-year-old went around at $21 for the 75^th edition of the Group 1 $1 million Turnbull Stakes (2000m) despite an impressive last start victory in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m).

The Naturalism form out of Caulfield was firmly franked on Turnbull Stakes Day with the sixth placed mare Lunar Flare winning the Group 3 $750,000 The Bart Cummings (2510m) and Smokin’ Romans doing the double at big odds for the first time since December Draw (2011).

“He’s just been a real product of the system,” co-trainer Ciaron Maher said of the progressive Smokin’ Romans.

“This preparation he’s carrying a lot more condition. He’s shown he’s in good form the whole way.”

Jockey Ethan Brown went into the all-important Spring lead-up full of confidence and was rewarded with his first Group 1 victory.

“Ethan, when he jumped on said ‘he’ll run a race today’,” Maher said.

“And I said ‘I know.’

“He was confident.”

Brown had Smokin’ Romans settled up on the speed settled second on the back of the front running Knights Order.

He followed that line into the straight, levelling closer before hitting the front 250m out from the winning post.

Giving a good late push, Smokin’ Romans was able to hold his lead right through the line for an impressive 1.5 length win over the John O’Shea-trained Maximal ($14).

In a close third also catching the eye ahead of potential runs in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup was the Danny O’Brien-trained Young Werther ($8.50).

The last two Turnbull Stakes winners both went on to win the Caulfield Cup next start with Incentivise (2021) and Verry Elleegant (2020) doing the double on back-to-back years.

Smokin’ Romans is currently in the Caulfield Cup with just 51.5kg, but Brown will not be available to ride him in the mile and a half classic.

Brown will instead be in Sydney on the same day partnering the stable’s Memsie Stakes winning mare Snapdancer in the $15 million The Everest (1200m).

Maher was quick to name Jamie Kah as the likely Caulfield Cup jockey to come aboard Smokin’ Romans on the light weight.

“The horse is going great,” he said.

“He drops to 51 and a half for a Caulfield Cup, which seems pretty nice.

“I think Jamie Kah will ride him. He’s on the light weight. I’d say she’d be pretty happy to get on after today.”

Smokin’ Romans is into $8 favouritism in all-in 2022 Caulfield Cup betting at Ladbrokes.com.au after his impressive Turnbull victory.

Click here for the full Caulfield Cup futures markets.

2022 Turnbull Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia.