By Duane Ranger (courtesy of Redcliffe Paceway)
New South Wales horseman, Josh Turnbull, set himself one goal at the start of the 2024 season, and the 38-year-old is now on target to achieve that personal milestone in Queensland before he departs for home next month.
The second eldest of the four Turnbull-based siblings (Nathan, Amanda, and Mitch) notched up his 396th training victory at Redcliffe Paceway on Thursday afternoon (September 26) when the Shane-Graham-driven Bling The Luck nailed race two – the Mazda Aspley NR Up To 40 Pace.
“I told myself at the start of the season that I would like to get to 400 wins, when I was on 374, and now that I’m getting close it might even happen before we head back to the Lagoon (home) in mid-October. We arrived here at the end of August,” Turnbull said while working his team at Tweed Heads
The 5-year-old mare, who is owned and was bred by his wife Jess, and Peter Crennan, provided Turnbull with his 22nd win of the season.
Bling The Luck started from gate nine and settled last early before Graham took her up being three-wide without cover down the back straight the last time. She then loomed up on the turn and had too much sprint in the lane to win by half-a-neck.
The bay mare paced the 1,780m-metre mobile in 2:13.1, with a 2:00.3 mile-rate. It was her 10th victory in 80 starts, and second this season. She also won at Albion Park on May 26 when she was trained by Turnbull’s older step-brother, Jack Butler.
Bling The Luck, who is the second, and only racehorse out of the 2012 unraced Rock N Roll Heaven mare, Glenferrie Crusade, has also placed nine times and banked $59,848 in purses.
“The mare goes all right, and has done a good job and I was proud of her win yesterday (Thursday). Shane drove her very well. She is one of eight horses I’m currently campaigning up here,” said Turnbull, who insists he’s primarily a ‘breaker’, who races horses as hobby.
“We have a healthy rivalry and love beating each other, but if I can’t win, I support them. If any of my family’s horses win, you can put it down to me, because I broke them in,” joked the former Bathurst High School-educated father-of-four.
It is Turnbull’s second campaign north, after bringing a team to the Sunshine State four years ago. He said 5-year-old Betterthancheddar brown gelding, Better Shush, was potentially the best of the octet he brought north.
“He’s won five races, including a good win in a $15,000 race at Albion Park a couple of weeks ago (September 7). I’ve won a few races here at ‘The Triangle’. It’s a bit different, but Parkes and Dubbo back home are a bit unique too.
“I remember Seven Aces loved racing up here.”
Turnbull’s first training triumph came via Jusjess at Bathurst on October 6, 2004, and his first driving success was behind Costa at Blayney on February 24, 2002.
Turnbull’s first training triumph came via Jusjess at Bathurst on October 6, 2004, while his first driving success was behind Costa at Blayney on February 24, 2002. He has also won two Listed Classic events thanks to his two siblings.
His first came via the Amanda Turnbull-driven Forever Texas in the Jackpot Pace at Tabcorp Park, Menangle on November 1, 2014; and then five years later thanks to the Nathan Turnbull-driven Hit The Track in The Gold Chalice Gold Consolation at Bathurst on March 29, 2019.
“I don’t drive anymore because I’m too heavy. My theory is I train them and then on race-day put someone light on them. It seems to work. I also don’t like getting beaten, so that way I’ve got someone else to blame.
“My whole career has been based around family, thanks to Mum and Dad (Jenny and Steve). I haven’t driven since the 2016-2017 season, because like I said my main job now is breaking in horses. I think I’ve broken in 94 horses this year.
My kids love harness racing as well. My grandparents were heavily involved as well, so we are all following the family tradition. Now my kids are following suit,” Turnbull said.
Married to Jess (nee Dennis), The Turnbulls, like his parents have four children – Ella (15), Ava (11), Lyla (7) and Cruz (5).
“My whole family is up here including my father-in-law, Noel, but the other five of us have enjoyed this working holiday up here. Ella has just left school and is now my right-hand man alongside my wife, who used to be a dance teacher, but now works in our stable as well as being a full-time Mum.
“My younger children are all Mini Pony drivers, so you can see the sport has definitely been passed on through our blood. I personally never had the brains to pursue anything else but horses,” Turnbull joked.
Asked what the best horse he had been associated with, Turnbull said the 2013 Major In Art gelding, Lockton Luck.
“He won 14 races and just over $100,000. He finished his career with Jack (Butler) and was then sold to the United States in late 2018. He was a fast pacer, who I respected a lot. Stakes-wise, my two most successful horses have been Lucky Lyla (18 wins and $122,790) and Yes You May (12 wins and $109,282).”
Turnbull farms sheep and cattle on his 290-acre property at Tannas Mount, just outside of The Lagoon. He also breeds from four broodmares – Shes A Dime (2012 Art Major – Its Only Money two-win mare; Glenferrie Lady (2009 Art Major – Lourdes three-win mare); Lucky me Lucky You (2006 Pacific Fella – Thurstons Dream seven-win mare); and Ashuras Gold (2011 unraced Lombo Pocket Watch – Ashura mare).
“She’s A Dime has just left us an Ultimate Machete filly, and Glenferrie Lady has left a King Of Swing colt.”
Turnbull said he was enjoying his working holiday in Queensland, and was looking to return here again next season.
Footnote: The Lagoon is 215km west of Sydney, and 1,031km from Brisbane and 1,063km from Redcliffe Paceway (18.5 hours by car). It boasts a population of 268. Tannas Mount (population 47) is 10km south of The Lagoon.
