Racing shorts: Turn Me Loose posts second Aussie G1 win
Turn Me Loose has posted his second Australian Group One victory, holding his rivals at bay to win the Futurity Stakes at Caulfield.
Having his second start since winning the Group One Emirates Stakes in the spring, Turn Me Loose was caught wide in the early stages of the weight-for-age race before pressing forward.
In a winning move, Jockey Opie Bosson was able to give the favourite some cover in third spot before easing out to mount a challenge at the 400m.
Turn Me Loose ($3.10) then edged clear and held his advantage to beat Stratum Star ($17) and CF Orr Stakes winner Suavito ($7).
“He loves a dogfight and I knew after the run the other day he was always going to improve,” Bosson said.
“I was pretty confident coming into today.”
Winx just too good in Chipping Norton Stakes
Winx has stretched her winning sequence and added another Group One triumph to a growing list of achievements.
The darling of Sydney racing, Winx sustained a long run to win the Group One Chipping Norton Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.
“We just dream of horses like her and it’s great for Australian racing,” trainer Chris Waller said.
To counter a bias that favoured horses racing on the speed, jockey Hugh Bowman let Winx stride from her midfield position at the 600m.
Winx joined in on the turn and then levelled up to Dibayani before drawing clear to win by 1-1/2 lengths.
Dibayani held on for second with Godolphin galloper Hauraki taking third, another length further back.
Winx has now won her past seven starts in a sequence that includes victories in the Cox Plate and the Epsom Handicap.
Waller said the mare was likely to have her next start in the George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill on March 19 or the Emancipation Stakes at the same track a week later.
Mick Price and the Blue Diamond dominance
Mick Price has trained the quinella in the Blue Diamond Stakes with Extreme Choice beating Flying Artie in the Group One race for two-year-olds.
Giving Price and jockey Craig Newitt their second win in the Caulfield feature, Extreme Choice made the most of a superior barrier although the colt still had to do it the hard way.
Starting favourite at $2.70, Extreme Choice was forced to cover ground but he went to lead under a tight grip before striding clear over Flying Artie ($5) who was carted deep on the home turn.
“He’s just a jet … he’s just got a motor-and-a-half,” Newitt said.
Price said a wide barrier counted against Flying Artie and jockey Damien Oliver.
“Luck in running was obviously massive,” Price said.
Zamzam, a $26 chance, made late ground to take the minor placing.
Extreme Choice and Flying Artie are now likely to take their place in the Golden Slipper at Rosehill on March 19.
Bewhatyouwannabe wins Listed Tattersall’s Members’ Cup
Everything fell into place for consistent Bewhatyouwannabe but not for short-priced favourite Right Or Wrong at Doomben.
Bewhatyouwannabe ($10) beat Snippets Land ($7) by a half head with a half neck to Right Or Wrong ($1.80) in the $100,000 Listed Tattersall’s Members’ Cup (1600m).
Trainer Robert Heathcote said it had been five weeks between runs when Bewhatyouwannabe was a last-start third at Doomben two weeks ago.
“He was a lot fitter today and people forget that he was already a Listed winner in the BRC Members Cup last winter who was in this race with one kilo over the limit.
“Michael Cahill knows him well and gave him every chance.”
Trainer Lindsay Gough was disappointed but not down-hearted about the defeat of Right Or Wrong who will now go for a spell.
Right Or Wrong was caught three deep in the middle stages and made the home turn four deep before hitting the lead and then tiring in the final 50m.
“We hoped to be in a position to set him for a Stradbroke in the winter but that won’t happen now unless he can win first-up,” Gough said.
“It wasn’t one of Robbie’s better rides and Right Or Wrong still nearly won.”
Trainer Marcus Wilson will aim Mana Manu for the $100,000 Gold Coast Stakes on March 12 after his win in the Tattersall’s Arcade Handicap.
Wilson said the only surprise about Mana Manu’s win was his starting price of $21 as the gelding had been unlucky at his previous few runs.
“Last start as he drew barrier eleven of eleven runners and had to go too far back,” Wilson said.
“The trick is to keep him down in the weights as once he gets over 56 kilos he struggles.”
Flamberge wins Group 1 Oakleigh Plate
Flamberge has held on to beat Fell Swoop in a photo-finish to the Group One Oakleigh Plate.
Having his third start in Caulfield’s premier sprint, Flamberge ($31) raced wide from a deep barrier with the 58kg topweight.
And while the Peter Moody-trained sprinter raced on tired legs from the 100m, he still had enough in hand to get the result from gallant Canberra galloper Fell Swoop ($14).
“We always try and have him ready for these handicaps because he’s not a weight-for-age horse,” Moody said.
The $3.70 favourite Heatherly held down the minor placing after sharing the lead from the jump.