Second Stakes-winner for Turn Me Loose

Tara Madgwick - Saturday February 26

Local runner Alabama Gold broke his maiden status in emphatic fashion when he led from go to whoa to take out the Gr.3 Fairview Matamata Slipper (1200m) at Matamata on Saturday.

Alabama Gold streaks clear to win the Gr.3 Fairview Matamata Slipper (1200m) Photo Credit: Trish Dunell

The speedy son of Windsor Park Stud stallion Turn Me Loose was coming off the back of an eye-catching late run for eighth in the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie last month, where a sluggish beginning and some home turn interference put paid to his winning chances.

This time rider Sam Weatherley bounced the showy chestnut colt away nicely to dispute the early pace with another Matamata local in Time Ruler before forging to a clear mid-race lead.

Weatherley had the Stephen Autridge and Kris Shailer-trained runner wound up with a full head of steam on the home bend and he raced away in the straight to win comfortably by over four lengths from race favourite Andalus and Zaher, who both closed off nicely in the final stages.

Autridge was delighted to see his charge get the win after his luckless effort at his last start.

“It was a very good effort as we had tried those tactics at his second start and they didn’t quite work as he was beaten into second,” he said.

“I thought his last start was an excellent run as he didn’t jump well and then got wiped out on the home corner.

“His sectionals on Karaka Million night were outstanding and Sam did say that he once he got the lead to himself, he relaxed nicely and did it easily in the end.

Alabama Gold was an $85,000 purchase out of Highline Thoroughbreds’ draft at Karaka last year and is from the speedy family of Vinaka, who won both the Gr.1 Railway (1200m) and the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m).

Advertisement

He is raced by Stan Painton, with Autridge hopeful the win will prove a tonic for his long-term owner who has not enjoyed good health in recent months.

“That was outstanding for Stan and I hope it is a good tonic for him as he hasn’t been doing that well of late and he is someone who just lives for his racing,” Autridge said.

“He never used to miss a meeting where he had a horse in, but since this COVID lockdown he hasn’t been well enough to attend, but I do know he will have definitely been shouting at the television.

“We’re not too sure what to do next with him, as in the back of our minds he was going out for a spell, but we may just leave that for a week and see how he comes through this race.

“The winners of this race have a very good record in the Group One at Ellerslie (Sistema Stakes, 1200m) in a fortnight so we might just have a change of plans if he thrives from this run.

“No matter what happens I think he is going to make a cracking three-year-old, so we are looking forward to that.”

From the second crop of multiple Group One winner Turn Me Loose, Alabama Gold becomes his sire’s second individual stakes winner and is one of five stakes performers for the young Iffraaj stallion.

Turn Me Loose will be represented by 27 individuals across the six days of the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka that commences on Monday March 7. – NZ Racing Desk

Visit the profile page for Turn Me Loose

Turn Me Loose in upcoming sales:
Advertisment

Race Result - Fairview Matamata Slipper Gr3 1200m

Matamata Track: Dead(4) Time: 1:10.46
1
Alabama Gold
- 2c Turn Me Loose (NZ) x Attalla (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: S Autridge & K Shailer Rdr: S R Weatherley 56.5
NZB Karaka Book 2 $32,000
Seller: Highline Thoroughbreds
Buyer: Mr AK Tyler
2
3.8
Andalus
- 2c Almanzor (FR) x Genius (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: M J Mc Nab 56.5
3
4.0
Zaher
- 2g Proisir (AUS) x Kimberley Cool (AUS) (Yeats (USA))
Tnr: Ms L Brennan Rdr: M Cameron 56.5
4
5.3
Desert Lightning
- 2c Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Isstoora (AUS) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: P & D Williams Rdr: M Hashizume 56.5
5
6.8
Night Raider
- 2g Belardo (IRE) x Midnight Breaker (NZ) (Housebuster (USA))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: V A Colgan 56.5
6
11.6
Stimulant
- 2g Holler (AUS) x Powerful Story (NZ) (Written Tycoon (AUS))
Tnr: A W Pike Rdr: R T Elliot 56.5
7
15.7
Time Ruler
- 2g Time Test (GB) x Got The Snitz (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: L O'Sullivan & A Scott Rdr: L G Innes 56.5
8
48.1
Crackacan
- 2g What's The Story (NZ) x My Smiley O'Reilly (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: D J Cherry Rdr: C M Burdan 56.5
More Reading...
Cream Rises at Trentham
A half-sister by Hello Youmzain (Fr) to dual Group I winner Mustang Valley, exciting filly Cream Tart is set to line up in one of the major three-year-old races over New Zealand Cup Week following her impressive win in Sunday’s Upper Hutt Car Sales LTD Three-Year-Old (1400m) at Trentham.
Sires With Winners - Saturday October 25
Here is the full list of 136 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Yes Yes Yes 3YO Shooting for G2 on Monday
Last year’s Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) set Savaglee up for Group One glory in Christchurch, and Matamata trainer Pam Gerard is hoping to follow a similar blueprint in 2025 with her Yes Yes Yes 3YO Affirmative Action..
Early Return Home for Cogburn
Group I winning Not This Time son Cogburn (USA) will return to WinStar Farm in Kentucky earlier than planned after disappointing fertility results during his first Australian covering season at Widden Stud.
Second Wootton Bassett Son Added to Coolmore Stallion Roster for 2026
Set to join Camille Pissarro as the second G1 winning son of Wootton Bassett on the stallion roster for Ireland in 2026 is Henri Matisse, who this time last year was about to claim his first G1 victory at the Breeders Cup meeting at Del Mar.
Sale Cup Winner Adds to Fastnet Rock Super Weekend
It’s been quite the weekend for the late great champion sire Fastnet Rock with a Cox Plate quinella on Saturday and then on Sunday he produced a new stakes-winner when seven year-old gelding El Rocko captured the $200,000 Listed Sale Cup (1600m).
Undefeated 3YO King of Light Wins Listed Belgravia
Dan Morton's exciting three year old King Of Light (Earthlight) remains unbeaten in three starts, as the gelding graduated to stakes company with a scintillating first up victory in the Listed Belgravia Stakes on Cox Plate Day at Ascot.
Wootton Bassett and Camelot 2YO Colts Win Final French Group Ones
The last French Group I races of their flat season were run on Sunday and Aidan O’Brien produced the winners of both the Group I Criterium International (1600m) and Group I Criterium de Saint Cloud (1800m).
Hi Yo Sass Bomb Wins G3 on Sunday
Kim Reid bypassed a Group One in favour of Sunday’s Gr.3 Gee and Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham with Hi Yo Sass Bomb, a decision that paid dividends when the mare led from the outset to claim her third stakes success.
From FNQ To Sha Tin - Aussie Bred Sprinter Wins G2 Premier Bowl
Some horses arrive in Hong Kong with a very different back story - Fresh from winning the $20million The Everest with Ka Ying Rising, David Hayes was back in the winner’s list at Sha Tin on Sunday when Tomodachi Kokoroe won the Group II Premier Bowl (1200m).