The wet track at Flemington will add an extra element to the spring preparations of Turnbull Stakes runners.

The Turnbull Stakes is pivotal to the future spring hopes of a number of its runners.

The added complexity in this year's Group 1 2000m contest run under set-weights and penalties at Flemington, is the heavy track conditions.

The Flemington track was rated a Heavy 9 on Friday morning following 52mm of rain with showers forecast throughout the day and into Saturday.

While it might dampen the hopes of some, those at the top of the market including Sir Delius and Aeliana are adept at performing on rain-affected ground.

Sir Delius is unbeaten in two starts on heavy tracks while Aeliana chased home her former stablemate Via Sistina when resuming in the 2025 Winx Stakes at her only attempt on a heavy track.

Aeliana does however have excellent credentials on soft ground, winning four times from six attempts with a second placing thrown in for good measure.

Her most recent soft track victories came in the Ranvet Stakes and Tancred Stakes at Rosehill earlier in the year.

Trainer Chris Waller said after two runs this campaign, Aeliana was getting back to her best, although there was still improvement to come with the Cox Plate (2000m) at Flemington on October 24.

He said Aeliana's coat was finally starting to come through.

"She was much better the other day," Waller said.

"She looked like she is ready to peak and hold her form.

"I'm keen to run her here despite it being a set weights and penalties race because she gets three weeks to get ready for the Cox Plate."

Aeliana will be joined by Caulfield Cup hopes Asterix and Ohope Wins along with last year's Cox Plate runner-up Buckaroo.

Soul Of Spain, another Waller prepared runner, is already a scratching and will run The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick instead.

"Asterix, he's just going really well," Waller said.

"He can get to the Caulfield Cup through this race while Buckaroo gets in with 55 (kilos) which is a good weight."

Waller is expecting an improved showing from Ohope Wins with the step up in distance with her most recent outing being in the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) on September 12.

"First-up it was a 1700-metre handicap and was too short," Waller said.

"She's never run over shorter than 2000 (metres) before, but she ran well the other day in the Makybe Diva."

Picture: Bradley Photos