Three-year-old colt Prix de Turn (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) relished being ridden closer to the speed when comfortably taking out the Gr.2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night for young Cranbourne trainer Matthew Brown.
Sent out a $26 chance, Prix de Turn swept to the lead under Beau Mertens and powered away to win by one and a quarter lengths ahead of second placed Can’t Go Wong (NZ) (Per Incanto) with a further half-length back to War Eternal (NZ) (Pierro) as New Zealand-breds provided the Group Two trifecta.
Brown has long held the colt, by Windsor Park Stud resident stallion Turn Me Loose, in high-regard, campaigning him in the best of company, including running in the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at just his second start.
“It’s petty surreal, it hasn’t quite sunk in to be honest,” Brown said.
“It was tempting to go to the Rosehill Guineas (Gr.1, 2000m). He has been perfect all prep. I stuck to my gut to start here.
“He probably raced a little flat last start with the quick back-up but his previous start at Sandown indicated he warranted a start in the Australian Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m). He bounced through that I could not have been any happier coming here.
“I copped a lot of flack running this horse in races he probably could not win. I thought he could be more than competitive in those races and the only times he has drawn a barrier, he has won both.
“I always thought he was a proper horse. He has had a few colty moments, but we have worked hard to keep his mind on the job.
“It was a grouse ride by Beau.
“To get a feature win like this with a colt is so exciting and a lot of the boys that are in him raced Turn Me Loose as well, so to have one of his progeny win a big feature is pretty exciting.”
Prix de Turn advanced his record to two wins and a third from seven starts with earnings of A$556,900.
Bred by Steve Till and Windsor Park Stud, Prix de Turn becomes the fifth individual stakes winner for Turn Me Loose, who has enjoyed a bumper few weeks.
With his eldest only three, the son of Iffraaj sired last Sunday’s Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) winner Lickety Split and Monday’s Listed Morphettville Guineas (1600m) winner Ancient Girl.
From 54 runners, the young Windsor Park Stud stallion has sired eight stakes performers.
Out of the three-time winning Red Ransom mare Prix Du Sang, who placed in the Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2000m) and was fourth in the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m), Brown will now let the dust settle as he ponders a start in the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) with Prix de Turn.
