Former Caulfield Cup favourite Green Moon has opened top of the markets for their first Group 1 assignment of the spring, the 2012 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington Racecourse this Saturday.

Green Moon has opened favourite for the 2012 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington this Saturday

Goliath owner Lloyd Williams’ ace spring cup hopeful this season, Montjeu five-year-old Green Moon goes to the $500,000 Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) third-up and they are set to jump the favourite.

Runner-up to the Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas-trained Southern Speed in last year’s $2.65 million Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m), Green Moon was last seen coming within a nose of victory when second to fellow Turnbull hopeful Happy Trails in the Group 2 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 15.

Stepping up to the 2000m on Saturday Green Moon is well fancied to return to the winners’ stall for the first time since their Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) win at Flemington back in March.

In the latest Turnbull Stakes 2012 betting markets at bookmaker.com.au Green Moon is the $4.80 favourite.

In the Caulfield Cup odds for the upcoming October 20 major meanwhile Green Moon is the $13 third favourite behind December Draw ($9) and Southern Speed ($12) who both also race in the Turnbull this weekend as two of the four other single-figure chances.

• #3 December Draw ($6) – Mark Kavanagh has been patient and worked hard to get last year’s beaten Caulfield Cup favourite back to racing fitness and the rewards are starting to come after their eye-catching third in the Underwood last time out
• #8 Southern Speed ($7) – Has the fitness edge with four runs under her belt this time in including two wins, last seen running fourth in the Underwood and needs a bit of luck here from gate 15
• #10 Linton ($8) – Genuine John Sadler-trained chance, local Galileo six-year-old Linton ran a first-up fourth in the Dato but will improve getting up in distance
• #9 Voila Ici ($9) – Peter Moody import has had two runs down under, most recently coming with a half length of Ocean Park in the Underwood as a $30 outsider

Other longer-priced chances in the latest Turnbull Stakes 2012 odds include Dato’ Tan Chin Nam StakeS winner Happy Trails ($10), last year’s Cox Plate third placegetter Rekindled Interest ($11), another Moody-trained import Sneak A Peek ($13) who beat Jakkalberry and Voila Ici home in a Group 2 Italian feature last September, and Ciaron Maher’s genuine stayer Moudre ($15).

For the full Turnbull Stakes betting odds and options head over to bookmaker.com.au and experience a better way to bet including their exclusive “Quickbet” function that will see you finish your bet in just three clicks of the mouse!

2012 Turnbull Stakes Odds

Flemington Race 7 – 4:20pm – 06/10/2012

*Fixed Win odds provided by bookmaker.com.au and subject to change