Racing: Turned loose in the Makfi

Turn me loose. File photo / NZME.

Last season's 2000 Guineas winner will be racing at Hastings after a call from co-trainer.

Turn Me Loose will be running after all in the $200,000 Makfi Challenge at Hastings on August 29.

A call from co-trainer Murray Baker to NZTR handicapping office had the desired effect of having Turn Me Loose's rating being reassessed to allow him to sneak into the Makfi field (Herald Racing Monday).

In a ridiculous situation, Turn Me Loose was 25th in order for gaining a Makfi start, despite winning the group one 2000 Guineas at his last race start and previously winning the Hawkes Bay Guineas.

"It all came down to the conditions of the race," said co-trainer Andrew Forsman.

Which is ridiculous.

"Shouldn't group one winner always have preference in races like this?" asks Forsman.

Exactly.

Whatever complication the conditions of Makfi entry, they are wrong. The chief handicapper agreed with Murray Baker's phone call and reassessed Turn Me Loose's rating from 86 to 94 which is much more in line for a group one winner.

"It appears he's been disadvantaged because he's only had a few starts compared to a lot of horses," said Forsman.

That is plainly ridiculous.

Turn Me Loose should not be allowed to be disadvantaged because he contracted a serious virus when taken to the Sydney Autumn Carnival after winning the 2000 Guineas. He did not race in Australia and was returned home for a spell.

The 4-year-old's barrier trial win at Ruakaka on Saturday, in which he easily held off Puccini and Dal Ciello, was sensational and he looks a great winning prospect in the Makfi.

The point here is -- New Zealand racing is always making a point that wouldn't it be nice to keep our New Zealand stars to race locally at least for a start or two before heading to Australia to race for big money and that's a magnificent principle.

But in the case of Turn Me Loose we had a situation that was in direct contrast to that principle which would have kept one of our best horses from being seen here.

"There is no question that if NZTR didn't alter Turn Me Loose's assessment he'd have been going directly to Melbourne," says Forsman, "and now New Zealanders will get a chance to see him race."

The Cambridge stable has a big opinion of Turn Me Loose and the Ruakaka barrier trial underscored that.