By Duane Ranger (courtesy of Redcliffe Paceway)
It’s been 11 years since The Lagoon reinsman, Mitch Turnbull, last drove a Redcliffe winner, but it was always bound to happen this campaign – simply because good things happen to good people.
The 27-year-old New South Welshman is campaigning a team of seven for the first time in Queensland. In early April he came north to Jack Butler’s Logan Village stable with a quarter of his father Steve’s stable..
It’s been a more than successful maiden venture north and Turnbull said he had no intentions of returning home in the immediate future.
Since arriving here Turnbull has produced six winners and four seconds, with his only Redcliffe victory so far coming via Somebeachwhere gelding, The Rainbow Beach, in race nine on Thursday (May 9).
But Turnbull isn’t in Queensland just to train horses. He’s also here to help family.
“Jack Butler is my foster brother. I grew up with him at The Lagoon. Jack, Tara, Marty and Chloe mean the world to me, and I’ll do everything I can to help Jack out during tough times. Family always comes first – no matter how important the horses are,” Turnbull said.
“It’s just so good to help out my brother when he needs it most. It also gives Dad a bit of a break back home having seven less horses to work,” he added.
Last year Butler was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He is currently being treated for it and according to Turnbull he is thriving.
“Jack’s body might be a bit weak at times but his mind is as strong as it ever was. I just love the man as much as I do my own siblings. He was always an older bro to look up to,” said Turnbull.
Apart from The Rainbow Beach’s 1.8 metre triumph on Thursday, all of Turnbull’s stake earnings have been won at Albion Park. His winners have come via Drive To The Beach (twice), Im Desirable, Saint Veran, Myra.
Im Desirable and Drive To The Beach both won on April 27. The latter also won on Saturday night (May 11), while Im Desirable finished second at the same meeting. Saint Veran saluted on May 3, while Myra Dawn won on May 4 and was second on Saturday night (May 11). Windy Hill Wally also finished second on April 5, and Bettor Keppel was also runner-up on April 27.
“Mum and Dad (Steve and Jenny) suggested I come up here about seven weeks ago, and then it all happened so fast. Then within a couple of days I was in Queensland with seven horses.
“I can’t believe the success that we’ve had up here. I don’t want to go home right now, even though I was scheduled to head back to The Lagoon after Chloe’s (Butler) 21st tomorrow week (Tuesday May 21), but I’m going nowhere now.
“It makes sense to just keep racing the team here while they are winning. I’m just taking it one day at a time too. It’s also important that I stay as long as possible for jack too,” Turnbull said.
“The team is going above expectation at the moment. In fact, the only one that’s not firing is our 2-year-old, Air Born, but he showed a bit of promise when finishing second at the Albion Park trials on Friday,” he added.
Chloe Butler had nothing but praise for Turnbull.
“Mitch has been a massive help. With Dad going through all his treatment, some days he can’t make it outside, and having that extra hand is a massive help. Just having Mitch help out with fast-working the horses makes a huge difference,” the talented 20-year-old horsewoman said.
The last time Turnbull drove a winner at Redcliffe was when he was 16 years old and was working for Shane Graham for two weeks.
“I came here just for a short two-week stint, and I remember driving at ‘The Triangle back then. McArmbro was my first Redcliffe winner I think. I remember driving three or four winners back then. I was just a teenager and keen as mustard. I couldn’t get out of school (Kelso High) quick enough. All I wanted to do was drive and be like Dad,” the youngest of the four Turnbull siblings said.
Turnbull’s previous Redcliffe victory came 3,940 days earlier on July 26, 2013, when McArdle gelding, McArmbro won race two by 3.2 metres with a 2:00.2-mile rate.
On Thursday Turnbull won behind the Steve Turnbull trained The Rainbow Beach by 1.8 metres with a 1:57.7 mile rate. He was the $1.75 favourite.
Turnbull led from go to woe from barrier one in the 1,780m Hygain Feeds Up to NR70 Pace. In fact, they never looked like getting beaten – winning with plenty in hand.
The Rainbow Beach has now won 11 of his 72 starts and placed in 21 others and banked $91,646 for his owners – the Sloane family. All four of his Queensland starts have been at Redcliffe. His form-line here reads 4-3-2-1..
“He’s quite a nice horse. He’s got better with each run here. Many ask me who’s the best I’ve brought up here but they are all going pretty well. It’s hard to single anyone of them over the other. They have all made the trip a successful one so far,” Turnbull said.
“Let’s hope this fella can go on with it on Wednesday (May 15),” he added.
The Rainbow Beach has drawn the awkward six marble in race four at 6.14pm on Wednesday. If he leads early again – game over.
The bay gelding provided Turnbull with his 516th career win 4.204 starts since the 2012-2013 season. He has also placed on 1,065 occasions and netted $4.06m in purses. He’s also nailed a Group Two, five Group Threes, and a Listed Classic event.
“I do miss working with Dad because he’s always been my inspiration, but for now extended family is more important. Dad recently notched up 4,000 training wins. That was an Australian first. You have no idea how proud I am. All I want to do is help him and Jack the best I possibly can, and if I could emulate half of what Dad has done I’d be happy.
Turnbull, who is single, is the younger brother of Nathan, Josh, and Amanda, who all have their own stables alongside their father.
“I’m the only one who works for Dad full-time at his 30-strong stable. I also work with him on his cattle farm as well,” he added.
Footnote: The Lagoon is an Oberon District settlement of 268 people – situated 16km south of Bathurst; 215km west of Sydney; and 976km (11.5 hours) south of Brisbane.
