Abbey Turnbull’s winning drive behind Dalvey Robyn at the Riverina Paceway on Melbourne Cup night was about as good as it gets. You wouldn’t have guessed the NZ import was a tricky horse to drive as you watched Abbey quietly manoeuvre him into the box seat soon after the start. She had the long striding gelding cruising in the one out one back spot until the 600m mark, where she elected to ease three wide and with good reason.
Dalvey Robyn had stepped out of his gear a couple of times in recent starts, and Abbey wanted to have him perfectly balanced before she popped the question. And balanced he was, as the Washington VC four year old swept to the lead and drew clear to win by a widening 3.5 metres. He looked to have a bit up the sleeve as he posted a 1.54.4 rate with a slick 27.8 last quarter. “He needed to get through a race without feeling too much pressure,” said Abbey. “That win will do wonders for his confidence.”
Abbey coaxes Dalvey Robyn to a comfortable win at the Riverina Paceway on Melbourne Cup night - Her 127th winning drive - courtesy Cheryl Hancock Photography.
For the record, that was Abbey Turnbull’s 127th win in less than five seasons of race driving - the kind of statistics you’d expect from a young lady who’s been speaking the language of harness racing from a very early age. Abbey was around fourteen before she showed an inclination to vault into a trotting gig, but her love for the animal was evident long before that. Netball and pony club were her chief interests early days, with a special liking for the latter. Her skills in dressage, eventing and show jumping took her to the Victorian Inter-School National Championships in eight consecutive years. The competition was staged in a different state each year. Abbey’s mum and dad were able to organize their lives to accompany their daughter on all but one occasion when the Nationals were held in WA.
Abbey with her miniature Paleface Adios.
Abbey was a study in poise as she cleared this Oxer.
Abbey’s father Craig Turnbull is the third son of the legendary Tony Turnbull who passed away in May of last year, aged 91. His mother Shirley predeceased Tony by some thirty five years, while his older brother Greg died much too soon in 1999. Those who remember the ever amiable Shirley Turnbull regularly comment on Abbey’s stunning resemblance to her grandmother. Young Craig was never going to do anything else, other than follow his father and siblings into the sport.
Natural talent as a trainer and driver quickly saw him gain recognition in his own right. Of his many career wins the one he remembers with most affection was an Albion Park success with Ridgefield Park in 1987. The gelding was a rising nine year old when “bequeathed” to Craig by leading trainer Brian Hancock. For many years Tony Turnbull escaped the freezing Bathurst winters by taking a team of horses to Queensland where he would campaign for many weeks.
In 1987 Ridgefield Park and young Craig Turnbull were members of the team. In winning a race at Albion Park, Craig and his veteran stable star caused a major boilover at odds of 50/1 when they nosed out the massively popular Wondai’s Mate who started at prohibitive odds on. The Queensland iron horse finished his racing career with an amazing 73 wins including 43 at Albion Park. All up, Craig won 5 races with Ridgefield Park who remains one of his all time favourites. Visitors to his Tatura farm nowadays have no inkling that the sign displayed at the gate, bears the name of the horse who gave him a career high point.
Craig trained topliner Our Uncle Sam for a short time in 2016 winning this 2yo race at Melton.
Craig can’t claim all of the credit for his daughter’s affinity with horses. Abbey’s ever affable mum Rebecca Cartwright developed her passion for horses at a similar age, albeit not immediately with standardbreds. Rebecca grew up in the Sydney suburb of Willoughby, but from age 10 was boarding her own pony at the popular Palomino Corral a few kilometres away at Belrose. Like Abbey in more recent times, Rebecca became very efficient in the showjumping, dressage and eventing disciplines. A few years later she grabbed an opportunity to work for the Golden Gait trotting stud during the course of a Sydney yearling sale. This is where she first met young Craig Turnbull.
Their paths crossed on infrequent occasions over a lengthy period of time, but their friendship had burgeoned by the time they met at the famous Bathurst 1000 touring car event in the early 1990’s. It was 1995 when Rebecca became a permanent resident of the legendary Turnbull trotting colony at The Lagoon 15 kms from Bathurst. Within weeks she was driving pacers with the aplomb of a veteran. Within months she was dreaming of the day she could don a set of colours.
Like many aspiring country harness drivers, Rebecca cut her teeth on the western show circuit. She learned how to look after herself in “show trots” at places like Bathurst, Cowra, Dubbo and Peak Hill. Before long she was a familiar face at registered meetings, and quickly staked her claim as a competitive driver. Rebecca thinks she drove around 150 winners before quitting the sulky a few years ago. Four horses hold pride of place in her scrapbook beginning with Star Of Patron, a NZ bred gelding she and Craig purchased at a Windsor horse sale for $250. Star Of Patron became Rebecca’s first winning drive at Parkes in early 1997.
Rebecca was on the job at Melton when this one was taken. She drove 150 winners before quitting the sulky a few years ago - courtesy Club Menangle.
She had special affection for Cherokee Charmer with whom she won 4 races including one at Harold Park - her very first win on the iconic Glebe track. Another favourite was the Classic Garry mare Rich In Memories with whom Rebecca won 5 races including one at headquarters. Standing alone as her once in a lifetime horse is the prolific winner Winsome James. She got to drive the son of Thorate in 19 of his 23 wins including 2 at Harold Park. “I’ve never known a horse like him,” says Rebecca. “He was an absolute gentleman to work with and a push button horse to drive in a race. I felt almost invincible every time I went out on him. I recall two amazing winning sequences he gave me - one of 5 straight and another of 3 on the trot. I’ll never forget him.”
You can see young Abbey Turnbull has been at the mercy of genetic forces from her earliest days. Being around mum and dad has obviously enhanced her passion for the standardbred breed. She also happens to have eleven first cousins who are currently active in the sport or are past participants. Amanda, Nathan, Josh, Mitch, Jason and Emma Turnbull compete regularly as do Will, Ellen and Hannah Rixon. Mark and Marie Tracey have moved on to other pursuits.
Abbey was just four years old when her parents elected to leave The Lagoon. Craig had accepted a job as property manager and harness horse trainer for Victorian owners Kevin and Colleen Bamford who ran a dual thoroughbred/standardbred operation on the magnificent Daisy Hill Stud - a 188 acre property at Doreen. In the mid 2000’s the property became the regular spelling venue for celebrity racehorse Americain, brilliant winner of the 2010 Melbourne Cup for French trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre. The stallion had been purchased before the Cup by Kevin and Colleen Bamford and their partner Gerry Ryan. Craig, Rebecca and Abbey would spend a happy fourteen years on Daisy Hill Stud.
Craig with Abbey and Maddi Ray at the trots.
Gordon Rothacker 1929-2010. A Victorian harness racing icon.
They were always quite humbled by the fact that their next door neighbour was none other than Gordon Rothacker MBE, regarded by veteran horsemen at the time, as perhaps the greatest harness horseman of his generation. Gordon, who passed away in 2010 at age 81, won 14 Melbourne driver’s premierships and 10 trainer’s titles. In his twilight years he worked his small team on the Daisy Hill track, and spent a few hours most mornings lending Craig and Rebecca a hand. “He was a lovely man and a source of great knowledge when it came to the standardbred horse,” recalls Rebecca. “Every comment he made about harness horses made sense. We used to hang on his every word. I was humbled beyond belief when he gave me two winning drives on Silent Bid not long before his passing. I was so proud to wear his famous colours.”
Abbey completed her education during the Daisy Hill years, gaining her VCE with distinction at the Eltham Ladies College. She was appointed School Captain, showed a natural talent for public speaking and was extremely popular with classmates. An academic future beckoned, but she couldn’t get those harness horses out of her mind. When Craig was certain she was ready to take on the rough and tumble of competitive race driving, he allowed her a little more rein.
It was trainer Mark Pitt who provided Abbey’s first win with a gelding called Modern Lebron in a C1 Final at Shepparton on 29/09/2017. The nineteen year old showed natural race sense when she made a quick move to the “death” when the speed slackened in the early stages. It turned out to be the right move, and the $1.70 favourite won comfortably. Her second win took a while to come around, but she was chuffed to win on Spunkyola at Maryborough for her father.
The winners started to flow as trainers recognised the young driver’s cool head and natural affinity with horses. There was one bittersweet day in May of last year when Abbey and Craig took two horses to Wagga and came away with a feature double. Jemsoms Pet won the Wagga Pacing Cup, and Heritage Lady came from last to swamp the opposition in the Wagga Oaks. Father and daughter were saddened that Tony Turnbull hadn’t had the opportunity to watch the exciting double on Sky Racing. The elder statesman was seriously ill following a major stroke he’d suffered at home a week earlier. Craig and Abbey were not far off Tatura when they received the phone call both had been dreading. Their beloved father and grandfather had passed away in Bathurst Hospital.
Heritage Lady storms home from last to win the Wagga Oaks from stablemate Abettasecret - courtesy Cheryl Hancock Photography.
They were in much higher spirits on August 5th this year when Abbey recorded her first treble. The venue was the Riverina Paceway at Wagga, and the first leg was courtesy of Bravo Stride trained by her strong supporter Russell Jack. Craig provided the other two winners Hiranya and National News, both owned by valued client Michael Boots. Abbey makes no secret of the fact that Hiranya is the horse she’s most admired since her career in harness racing began. “It’s a bit like Mum and her favourite horse Winsome James,” says Abbey. “We just seem to click together.”
When it comes to sheer firepower Michael Boots vies with Emilio and Mary Rosati for the honour of racing the biggest number of horses on Australian tracks. Michael’s company Boots Properties Racing Pty Ltd currently employs around twenty four trainers across Australia. He’s a regular at yearling sales and a major player on the NZ tried horse market. Hiranya and National News are just two of the many horses he’s sourced from Kiwi agents. The two horses have won six races apiece since arriving in Australia, driven exclusively by Abbey Turnbull. Michael Boots runs a large Leeton based earthmoving operation and says his horse interests provide a much needed diversion from the pressures of business.
Mindful that she should gain expertise in a field away from harness racing, Abbey has already completed two thirds of a six year Bachelor of Health and Bachelor of Applied Sciences degree, majoring in Osteopathy. She’s currently on a one year deferment working full time for her father. As this story is posted she’s contemplating the possibility of combining her experience in osteopathy with a continued involvement in harness racing. “I can see myself one day helping out with training duties in the mornings before going off in the afternoons to treat horses,” says Abbey. “It’s only a dream at the moment, but there’s nothing wrong with dreaming a little.”
Abbey's resemblance to her late grandmother Shirley was evident on the night she made her debut.
Six years ago Craig and Rebecca purchased a former Tatura dairy farm which they’ve carefully transformed into a very workable training property. “Ridgefield Park” features a 1000m training track, spacious irrigated paddocks, three separate barns and equine swimming facilities. Craig likes to keep his horse numbers around the fifteen mark. One of his valued helpers is twenty seven year old Maddi Ray, who’s lived with the family since age thirteen. Maddi assists with training duties in conjunction with her work as a registered nurse. She enjoys an occasional race drive and has twenty wins to her credit.
Abbey Turnbull is away to a flying start as an exponent of the race driving art. One hundred and twenty eight wins as this story goes onto the website, is quite an achievement. In seeking an appropriate quote about her talents, I spoke to her mother Rebecca Cartwright. “She has great hands, sits quietly in a race, has the knack of getting horses to settle and really makes it look easy,” she said.
Even allowing for natural bias, that’s a pretty accurate assessment. Thanks Bec.
The Turnbulls were out in force at this meeting in the early 1990s. From left - Craig, Cindy, Tony, Steve and Tony's late son Greg - courtesy Club Menangle.
(Banner image - A Wagga Cup win for Abbey on Jemsons Pet May 2021 - Cheryl Hancock Photography.)