Lickety Split (AUS)
Lickety Split (AUS)
2 f Turn Me Loose – She’s Slinky by Handsome Ransom
O: M Delahunty, D & T Hawkins, Mrs C A & N D Hewson, J & M Kilkenny
B: D Hawkins & N D Hewson
T: Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman
W: Thomsons Foodservice 1100, 1100m, February 18, Ellerslie
Windsor Park stallion Turn Me Loose (Iffraaj) has enjoyed a fruitful week with his progeny on the racetrack, with four winners from his last four starters.
At Wanganui yesterday, the stallion was delivered wins courtesy of three-year-old fillies Mazzini and Heeluvah Return, with the latter winning the 1340-metre maiden, while Mazzini scored in the very next race, the Guthrie Bowron Maiden (1600m). These victories followed an impressive maiden win for Prix De Turn at Sandown on Wednesday, who will now target the Australian Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m).
However, earning Maiden of the Week status is the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained filly Lickety Split, who took out the Thomsons Foodservice (1100m) two-year-old maiden event at Ellerslie on Saturday.
The juvenile, who is one of 13 winners overall and three at two for the stallion, ran out an impressive neck winner over the Australian-bred Slipper Island (No Nay Never) on debut, with the duo racing five and a half lengths clear of the remainder of the field.
It was a gritty performance from the filly, who had to knuckle down to get up in the final strides for victory under Matthew Cameron.
“She has a bit of scope about her and to see the way she knuckled down and fought so hard after just the one trial was very heartening,” Forsman said.
“She did most things right, which was also good to see and I liked the way she found the line so strongly over the last little bit.
“She is a filly we think can go on with it next season now she has had a taste of what the racing game is all about.
“We’re not sure what we are going to do next with her, but I’m hoping we can get one or two more starts before we put her away for the winter.”
The third foal out of Listed-placed mare She’s Slinky (Handsome Ransom), Lickety Split is a half-sister to the winner Neon Moon (Exosphere). Further back, this is the family of Group 3 winner Classic Babe (Classic Fame), who in turn is the dam of Group 2 winner Passchendaele (Montjeu).
The recent purple patch of form for the offspring of Turn Me Loose is a welcome boost ahead of next month’s delayed NZB Karaka Premier Yearling Sale, for which he has 11 youngsters consigned for Book 1 and 16 in Book 2.
Windsor Park Stud themselves will offer 14 yearlings by Turn Me Loose.
“We have some lovely horses to sell right across our draft,” said Windsor Park’s Rodney Schick.
“Turn Me Loose has a cracking filly in Lot 26 from the good mare Trepidation, who has already produced a winner in the two-year-old full-sister, named Wessex, who won on debut.
“Lot 540 is a Turn Me Loose colt out of Rolling In Thedeep and is from a wonderful family, while Lot 246 is out of Fastnet Rose and from the family of Stradbroke Handicap winner Trekking.
“They are both beautiful, athletic colts with the looks to match.”