New G3 Winner for Turn Me Loose

Media Release - Saturday May 13

Free-going three-year-old filly Wessex proved too swift for her older rivals in Saturday’s Gr.3 Rotorua ITM Stakes (1400m) as she secured a dominant front-running victory.

Rider Kozzi Asano went handlebars down from barrier rise on the Andrew Forsman-trained daughter of Turn Me Loose as he set up a break of more than six lengths midway during the 1400m contest.

It was apparent that Wessex was still travelling sweetly for Asano turning for home, however she started to shorten stride at the 250m as both On The Prowl and race favourite Sumi began to close appreciably.

Wessex found plenty in reserve though as she maintained her gallop to the line, winning by over two lengths and sealing her first victory at stakes level.

Forsman, who enjoyed a long and successful partnership with the now-retired Murray Baker celebrated his first black-type success in a solo capacity when Francesca triumphed in last year’s Rotorua Stakes (1400m), and the Group One winning conditioner was able to land the feature in successive years.

It was a good training feat by Forsman, who produced the filly first-up off a three and a half-month break. She was put aside after finishing down the track behind Prowess in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) at Pukekohe.

Wessex is going powerfully as she heads to the winning post at Rotorua to secure victory in the Gr.3 Rotorua ITM Stakes (1400m) Photo: Trish Dunell

“She is a filly who always seems to go her best races when she is fresh and she can get out in front, find a rhythm and just do her own thing,” Forsman said.

“It did look like she might have a wee wobble in the run home, but Kozzi did say she had plenty left and when he asked her, she was very strong to the line.

Advertisement

“I did think she would go a good race as she had been working well, so when she got an uncontested lead, I was pretty confident she would be hard to run down.”

Given her ability to handle winter tracks, Forsman will continue along a black type path with Wessex in the short term.

“We will just keep her a little on the fresh side as we look at what is coming up,” he said.

“There is another similar race at Tauranga later in June (Listed Tauranga Classic, 1400m) so that looks like an obvious target for her.”

Bred by Windsor Park Stud, Wessex was a $150,000 purchase by Forsman and part-owner Ben Kwok out of the Stud’s Book 1 draft during the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale at Karaka.

Out of the stakes winning mare Trepidation, who finished third on two occasions in the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham, Wessex has won three of her eleven starts and over $115,000 in prizemoney. 

Wessex is the seventh stakes-winner for Windsor Park Stud's Turn Me Loose.– NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Bred to Win Returns on Monday night
Caroline Searcy’s Bred To Win returns this Monday night profiling new and proven stallions heading into the Spring of 2025 and promoting the thoroughbred breeding industry in Australia and around the world.
Dual Group Winner Too Darn Good At Flemington
A dual group winner during the Spring of her 3yo season, talented mare Too Darn Discreet showed an electric turn of foot, charging home over the top of them to win the Melbourne Cup Carnival On Sale (1620m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Victorian Breeders Celebrate Annual Awards Night
The 2025 Victorian Breeding Awards has once again showcased the outstanding achievements within Victoria’s thoroughbred breeding and racing industry.
Turn Me Loose Filly Chasing More Black Type Success
Trainer Andrew Forsman is hunting more black-type with Wessex when she heads south to New Plymouth on Saturday to tackle the Listed Sinclair Electrical And Refrigeration Opunake Cup (1400m).
King of Roseau Wins G3 Aurie’s Star
Placed in the Listed VRC Poseidon Stakes at Flemington last spring as a three year-old behind Growing Empire, Capitalist gelding King of Roseau returned to the same venue on Saturday to capture the Group III VRC Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m).
The Novelist Returns to Form
The very first stakes-winner for his sire Written By when winning the Group III BRC BJ McLachlan Stakes in December 2022, The Novelist made light of the heavy 10 track at Rosehill on Saturday to claim another victory.
Wessex Lets Loose
Wessex, the brilliant second-crop daughter of Turn Me Loose who won the Gr.3 Rotorua Stakes last Saturday, further enhanced her own value as well as her young sire’s growing tally of stakes winners to become Turn Me Loose’s third three-year-old Group winner this season and seventh individual stakes winner to date.
Per Incanto Mare Wins $100,000 Polytrack Championship
Synthetic flyer Cosentino silenced any doubt about running out the seven furlongs with a blistering performance to claim Sunday’s $100,000 Japac Homes Polytrack Championship (1400m) at Awapuni.
Sliding Doors Moment Delivers Feel Good Winner at Rosehill
Two fillies were born at Yulong in 2021 sired by Alabama Express from imported North American daughters of Street Cry, one of them is triple Group I winner Treasurethe Moment and the other is the feel good winner of the day at Rosehill on Saturday.
Quality Mare Wessex Ready to Return
Wessex is in good order to resume at Te Rapa on Saturday, although trainer Andrew Forsman believes the four-year-old will improve as she steps up in distance this preparation.