Sometimes the biggest slaughter in a race wins and with Turn Me Loose nothing is more accurate than today in the G2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m). His rider was supposed to ride him quietly but after being wide in the midfield the colt took charge of the pilot and sped up third and wide on an already solid pace after 400m. Then once alongside the leader one-off at the 800m attacked from that point onwards to the home turn and got the upper hand to win narrowly. It was not an oil painting ride. The time of 1:21.31 was the best of the day for the 1400m as the Open Handicap ran 1:21.62 and was less of an attack-fest, while the final event on the card did see some gassing and clocked 1:21.36 for a Ratings 75. The times that were fast on a windy at times day came unsurprisingly at the 1200m and 1400m for this venue as they always do. Turn Me Loose cannot race as fired up and expect to run a mile or more so some gear changes may happen next as the soon to take a sojourn Opie Bosson is not exactly a weak rider. It seems now it is best to let run the colt and heaven help the next rider that tries to throttle back on him as some longer and sore arms will be the outcome. Prince Mambo attacked for the lead early then took a dream sit third from the 800m until the home turn and had the last shot at the two ahead cutting each other to ribbons. He almost got up and in reality should of with the drop on them from so far out. The third finisher Longchamp with the fitting name considering this weekends Arc in Paris was the best run in the race overall despite all the kudos and praise heaped solely for some reason just on the winner. Longchamp was not attacked once in the lead but twice (the winner and runner up had a look at him), so to go down half a head and a neck was sensational. He would relish some cut in the ground for his main target the G1 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November. Stratocaster ran on well but cannot afford to give stronger 3yo fields such a head start as they can run a closing sectional almost as good as him and with a buffer do not actually need to be faster over the final stages. Amun Ra, Rockfast and Leeds had their chances and the first and third names need rain-affected footing for sure. The middle name got going again late but hitting that flat patch is a worry. Platinum Witness for a maiden filly was okay late and there is a decent race in her this season. Many others in this could not cope on the better footing and/or in such a fast run pressure race. It will be interesting to see how several pull up from this as being 3yo’s they can start to feel each firmer track outing over spring especially when the pace is torrid throughout.