A massive prize for young Cranbourne based trainer Matthew Brown as the Turn Me Loose colt Prix De Turn dominated Friday night’s $750,000 Group II DCE Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) at Moonee Valley. Coming with a sweeping run four wide rounding the home turn under Beau Mertens, Prix de Turn defeated Per Incanto colt Can't Go Wong by one and a quarter length with the Pierro colt War Eternal a half-length back in third.
Campaigned in the best of company, Prix de Turn advances his record to two wins and a third from seven starts with earnings of $556,900.
“It’s petty surreal, it hasn’t quite sunk in to be honest,” Brown said.
“It was tempting to go to the Rosehill Guineas. 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 Australia Guineas. 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 had s drawn a baiier he has wion 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.
“I was confident he would get the trip as his mother ran fourth in a derby. He just had to get around the Valley to be competitive.”
Bred by Steve Till and Windsor Park, Prix de Turn failed to make his $50,000 reserve at Karaka in 2020, before making $47,500 to the bid of Matthew Brown Racing from the Ohukia Lodge draft at the 2020 Inglis Ready 2 Race Sale.
The son of Turn Me Loose is the best of three winners from five to race out of the stakes-placed Red Ransom mare Prix du Sang.
Brown went to the 2021 NZB Ready To Run Sale to purchase a sister to Prix De Turn for $80.000 from the Woburn Farm draft.
Prix De Turn is the fifth stakes-winner for Windsor Park Stud’s Turn Me Loose. The son of Iffraaj is enjoying a magical run with Group 1 winner Lickety Split and Group III and Group III winner Alabama Gold leading the way.
