Top Kiwi jockey Opie Bosson can see his mount Turn Me Loose testing the short priced favourite Winx in the Group 1 $1m China Horse Club George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Turn Me Loose, above, takes on Winx in the George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Chris Waller trained Winx, the winner of the 2015 Cox Plate, is lining up for her eighth straight win and has been installed the $1.65 favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au.
Bosson considers Turn Me Loose, a $7.50 chance, to be on an upward spiral and can improve on his last start win in the Group 1 $500,000 italktravel Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 27.
“I’m really looking forward to him, he’s improving all the time,” Bosson told racing.com.
“For sure, he’s still on the way up.
“All reports are that he’s flying in his trackwork.”
“He seems to be working well that way around [right hand] and trialled quite well.”
Turn Me Loose’s Futurity Stakes win was the Murray Baker trained four year old’s second Group 1 victory after leading all of the way to beat Politeness and Rock Sturdy in the Group 1 $1m Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington during the 2015 Melbourne Spring Carnival and Bosson can see him setting a good pace again from the outside barrier in the small eight horse field.
“It’s not a worry at all [barrier eight of eight], he’ll just roll along and get on the speed anyway,” Bosson said.
“I know it’s a really strong field, but he’ll give them a good showing anyway.”
Winx returned for her Autumn Carnival campaign in first class order and at her first back after winning the Group 1 $3m Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley in October scored a one length win over Solicit in the Group 2 $250,000 Optus Business Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on February 13.
The glamour mare then backed up to record her fourth Group 1 win when she beat Dibayani and Hauraki in the $600,000 Precise Air Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on February 27.
George Ryder Stakes market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $1.65 Winx, $5 Press Statement, $7.50 Turn Me Loose, $9 First Seal, $12 Kermadec, $31 Happy Clapper, $51 Hucklebuck, Tinto.
