Exciting Turn Me Loose filly, She’s Licketysplit, showed she is a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming Gr.1 Schweppes One Thousand Guineas (1600m) with a brilliant winning performance in the Gr.2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Given an economical trip just behind the speed by rider Damian Lane, the daughter of Turn Me Loose cruised into contention early in the long run home at Flemington and looked to have plenty of petrol in the tank as she moved to the lead with 300m to run. The Andrew Forsman-trained runner had more than enough in reserve to draw clear and win by a comfortable length on the line.
The winning time recorded for the race was the fastest since the turn of the century in a race whose honours list includes such high-class fillies as Alinghi and Mosheen.
Turn Me Loose, a Triple Group One winner, was trained throughout his career by the Baker/Forsman team and stands at Windsor Park Stud in Cambridge.
The win of the Turn Me Loose filly wasn’t the only highlight for the stud at Flemington on Saturday, with the Windsor Park bred and sold Mr Maestro (Savabeel ex Let Me Roar by Rip Van Winkle) also putting in a dominant winning display in the Super Impose Stakes over 1800m again for the Andrew Forsman – Damian Lane duo.
Bookmakers reacted to the performance by making him the outright favourite for the Victoria Derby run at the Flemington Spring carnival.
