Front running multiple Group 1 winner Turn Me Loose will be let loose to set a slick pace in the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) on the first day of ‘The Championships‘ at Randwick on Saturday.
Turn Me Loose will be allowed to set a solid pace in the Doncaster Mile at Randwick. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Cambridge trainer Murray Baker will be instructing regular rider Opie Bosson to let Turn Me Loose stride along after he tried to restrain the four year old in the Group 1 $1m China Horse Club George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill a fortnight ago.
Turn Me Loose was allowed to lead but used up plenty of energy in the early and middle stages fighting against Bosson and as a result faded in the straight to be beaten six and a half lengths when sixth to the Chris Waller trained Winx.
“I think he went too slow, he likes to bowl along and when he was restrained he over raced and wasn’t himself,” Baker said.
“He has gone quicker in Melbourne, the sectional times say his first couple of furlongs were lengths slower than what he has run in the past.
“We will be letting him run tomorrow, letting him get in to his own rhythm, that is how he races best.”
Turn Me Loose set a solid pace when he led all of the way to win the Group 1 $1m Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington during the 2015 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
But Bosson settled the Iffraaj stallion behind the leader in the Group 1 $500,000 italktravel Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 27 when he finished too strongly to beat Stratum Star and Suavito.
Baker said that Turn Me Loose has come through the run in the George Ryder Stakes in great order and expects an improved performance back to the 1600m of the Doncaster Mile.
“He is jumping out of his skin this morning, he looks terrific, I can’t fault the horse at all,” Baker said.
“His work since last start has been strong as ever.
“I’m expecting an improved performance.”
Turn Me Loose has drifted in the betting since the final field for the Doncaster Mile was released on Tuesday and after opening at $21, is now a $26 chance with Ladbrokes.com.au.
Glamour mare Winx heads the market order at $1.90 ahead of the Chris Waller trained stablemate Kermadec at $8 and Victorian mare Azkadellia at $9.
Doncaster Mile market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $1.90 Winx, $8 Kermadec, $9 Azkadellia, $11 Happy Clapper, $14 Bow Creek, $17 First Seal, $21 Volkstok’N’Barrell, He Or She, $26 Turn Me Loose, Good Project, $51 Stratum Star, Rudy, $91 Ecuador, $126 Vergara, $201 Aomen.
