Turn The Ace takes out Te Rapa feature

Breednet - Saturday May 8

Rugged two-year-old Turn The Ace provided a second milestone for his sire Turn Me Loose in the space of seven days when he took out the feature event at Te Rapa on Saturday, the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre 2YO Stakes (1100m).

Turn The Ace (outer) and Ryan Elliot win the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre 2YO Stakes (1100m) at Te Rapa. Photo: Trish Dunell

The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained youngster registered the first success as a sire for triple Group One winner Turn Me Loose when he won on debut last Saturday and backed that up with another superb performance to become his first stakes winner.

Rider Ryan Elliot had Turn The Ace away nicely from an inside gate and was content to sit outside a steady pace set-up by race favourite Rangi Toa. The pair established a break on their rivals shortly after straightening and set down to fight out the finish with Turn The Ace getting in the deciding stride to take the race by the barest of margins.

Forsman was delighted with the victory, but admitted it came as part of a bizarre day for the Cambridge stable who had had scored one race earlier with track specialist Crafty Jess in the open 1600m event but had the misfortune to see stablemate Marroni clip heels and fall when lodging his challenge in the event.

Advertisement

“It’s definitely been a crazy day, but it’s very gratifying to pick up a double and to see Turn The Ace win like he did,” Forsman said.

“We weren’t too sure about backing him up after his win last week, but he did really well, so we rolled the dice and got the result we were looking for.

“It was a super win, from a very tough horse, who I think is going to thrive with some time off now before we look at a three-year-old campaign.”

Forsman was pleased to see Elliot not take up the pacemaking role in the race, rather giving Turn The Ace something to focus on and chase down in the home straight.

“I definitely think he is a better horse chasing, so Ryan handled him perfectly,” he said.

“The last thing you wanted to see was for him to lead and maybe knock up in the final stages, but he showed plenty of guts and reminded me of his old man so much with the attitude and determination he displayed.

“We have quite a few by Turn Me Loose in the stable and I think he will definitely make it as a stallion on what they are showing us at home.”

Forsman also reported that Marroni had come through his tumble without any signs of major injury, but was feeling a little stiff and sore, while rider Masa Hashizume was conscious but heading to Waikato Hospital for tests after being clipped by another runner when being thrown clear of his mount. – NZ Racing Desk

Visit the profile page for Turn Me Loose

Turn Me Loose in upcoming sales:
Advertisment

Race Result - Centre Stakes LR 1100m

Te Rapa Track: Dead(5) Time: 1:05.61
1
Turn The Ace
- 2g Turn Me Loose (NZ) x Frescoes (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: M Baker & A Forsman Rdr: R T Elliot 56.5
2
0.1
Rangi Toa
- 2c Shamexpress (NZ) x Double Parked (NZ) (Thorn Park (AUS))
Tnr: A W Pike Rdr: S T Collett 56.5
3
1.4
Beldarra
- 2f Hinchinbrook (AUS) x Inside Line (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: L R Noble Rdr: L G Innes 55
Hinchinbrook
4
2.7
Abeyance
- 2f Written Tycoon (AUS) x Charmont (AUS) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: M Baker & A Forsman Rdr: S R Weatherley 54.5
5
2.9
Divine Sava
- 2f Savabeel (AUS) x Divine Shiva (NZ) (No Excuse Needed (GB))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: S C Spratt 54.5
6
3.3
Aglianico
- 2f Rubick (AUS) x Gagliano (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: L R Noble Rdr: D S Johnson 54.5
7
3.8
Musigny Lass
- 2f Iffraaj (GB) x Lady Pinot (NZ) (Starspangledbanner (AUS))
Tnr: S & K Alexander Rdr: C J Grylls 54.5
8
4.4
Chancellor
- 2c Vadamos (FR) x Silke Top (GB) (Librettist (USA))
Tnr: M Moroney & P Gerard Rdr: T Yanagida 56.5
9
37.1
Noverre
- 2c Savabeel (AUS) x Magic Dancer (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle (IRE))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: J Parkes 56.5
More Reading...
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for So You Think
The Listed VRC TAB Trophy (1800m) for three year-olds on Cup Day at Flemington drew a competitive field of up and comers with So You Think gelding Opening Address stamping himself as a bright prospect for the future with a stylish victory.
Tycoon Star Makes Winning Debut in G3 Maribyrnong Plate
Tycoon Star looked like the consummate professional when making a winning career debut in the Group III Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) to kickstart Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
Turn the Ace Steps Up in Trip
Promising three-year-old Turn the Ace showed he won’t be fazed by the longer distances as he matures into his imposing frame after winning nicely over 1600m at Ruakaka on Saturday.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.