Exciting 3YO Turn The Ace (Turn Me Loose) delivered a class performance on Saturday to win the $60,000 ITM Winter Championship Final over 1600m at Ruakaka.

Racing on the pace and giving all his rivals weight, the big striding son of Turn Me Loose showed that longer distances will hold no fears as he matures into his imposing frame, producing an irresistible kick turning for home to draw clear of a classy field and win by a comfortable 1.7 length margin.

Tough and genuine, Turn The Ace was an unbeaten stakes winning two-year-old and has now won four races with the improving galloper now aiming for higher honours.

Although holding a nomination of the Gr.3 Winter Cup at Riccarton next month trainer Andrew Forsman may decide on an alternative plan. 

“Craig judged things to a nicety as he didn’t get any favours in front, but he held him up and when he asked him for an effort, he really dug deep.

“He is still a fair way off being the finished product as he has maturing to do, but he is racing with a lot of confidence.

“I’m inclined not to go to Riccarton but instead keep ticking him along and place him accordingly as I think when he does fully mature, he can be a very good horse with the racing pattern he likes to adopt.”

Along with former training partner Murray Baker, Forsman developed Turn The Ace’s successful young sire Turn Me Loose into a Champion, Group One-winning sprinter/miler, recording victories in the Emirates Stakes at Flemington and Futurity Stakes at Caulfield following success in the NZ 2000 Guineas at Riccarton as a three-year-old.

With just two crops to race, Turn Me Loose is NZ’s Leading Second Crop Sire of stakes winners in Australasia with his progeny also including this season’s Gr.1 winning 2YO Lickety Split and Melbourne Gr.2 winning three-year-old Prix de Turn.