Macedon Lodge affirmed its affinity with the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes when it provided the quinella of the 2012 edition at Flemington.Imported gallopers Green Moon and Seville fought out the $500,000 event to deliver prominent owner Lloyd Williams, his co-owner son Nick and private trainer Robert Hickmott one of their best days at the races. Green Moon's win follows victories by Williams-raced pair Efficient and Zipping in 2009 and 2010 respectively and came just a couple of hours after wins to M
Macedon Lodge affirmed its affinity with the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes when it provided the quinella of the 2012 edition at Flemington.
Imported gallopers Green Moon and Seville fought out the $500,000 event to deliver prominent owner Lloyd Williams, his co-owner son Nick and private trainer Robert Hickmott one of their best days at the races.
Green Moon's win follows victories by Williams-raced pair Efficient and Zipping in 2009 and 2010 respectively and came just a couple of hours after wins to Mourayan and Tanby in the Craven Plate and The Bart Cummings respectively.
"You don't have days like this at the races very often," a beaming Nick Williams said, unaware that another victory awaited later in the day, when Fawkner took out the final event on the card.
Green Moon will now head to the $3 million Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) in preference to the BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) after overcoming a wide run to score an impressive win.
The son Montjeu was three-deep without cover for much of the 2000-metre event but proved still too tough.
The $4 favourite scored by a long neck from his stablemate, who stormed into second at $31, with December Draw ($6) nosing out leader Voila Ici ($6) for third, 1-1/4 lengths away.
Williams confirmed Green Moon would now head to the Cox Plate and offered a tongue-in-cheek suggestion that ruling favourite Pierro should look for an alternate option.
"I don't think there's any decision to be made after today," Williams said.
"I'd just be saying if I had a three-year-old I'd look at how tough he was today winning three-wide with no cover the entire trip. I wouldn't even bother bringing it down here."
Green Moon will not be at Caulfield to try and go one better than last year's second placing in the Caulfield Cup, but Team Williams will still be represented in the $2.5 million event with Seville surging into contention.
"He has done everything we've asked of him and he deserves to take his place in the Caulfield Cup," Williams said.
Of the unplaced brigade, ATC Derby winner Ethiopia impressed with a stout sixth placing, Sneak A Peek (seventh) ran well without having much room early in the straight, while Niwot (eighth) and Winchester (ninth) also hit the line well. (www.racingvictoria.net.au)