Turn Me Loose primed for Australia

Turn Me Loose is on target for a return to racing in the Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley.

New Zealander Turn Me Loose is on track to make his return in the Group Two Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley later this month.

Murray Baker, who trains the Group One winner in partnership with Andrew Forsman, says the five-year-old will be aimed at a defence of the Futurity Stakes at Caulfield, taking in the Group One C F Orr Stakes on the way.

“He’s going as well as he’s ever gone,” Baker told nzracing.co.

“He’ll trial at Cambridge on January 10 and then he’ll possibly go to Australia, though we’re undecided yet because he’s still in the Telegraph.”

The Telegraph Handicap is at Trentham on January 21 but Baker said the Australia Stakes a week later was a more likely starting point, giving two weeks to the Orr and another fortnight to the Futurity.

Turn Me Loose, winner of the 2015 Emirates Stakes at Flemington, was named New Zealand’s champion sprinter and champion middle distance horse for last season.