Horse Racing: Turn Me Loose wins final feature

Turn Me Loose. Photo / Paul Taylor

New Zealander Turn Me Loose has staved off Politeness to win the final Group One race of the Melbourne spring carnival, the Emirates Stakes.

It was some consolation for co-trainer Murray Baker after Caulfield Cup winner Mongolian Khan missed the Melbourne Cup after suffering a bout of colic.

Kerrin McEvoy replaced the suspended Opie Bosson on Turn Me Loose for Saturday's Emirates (1600m) at Flemington and said he felt for his fellow rider.

"I'd like to thank Murray Baker and the Opie Bosson, the jockey who did all the work on the horse. I feel for you," McEvoy said.

"I rode him on Thursday morning for the first time and he's a bold going Kiwi. Likes to get out there and make every post a winner."

"He was too strong for them. In the straight he's so tough. He keeps digging in."

Baker originally had the Cox Plate in mind for Turn Me Loose but had to change his program when a meeting at Hastings was washed out.

He said he felt for Bosson but praised McEvoy.

"He rode him great," he said. "Commiserations for the jockey who has ridden him right through but Kerrin showed what a great rider he is."

Baker also said Mongolian Khan had a way to go before he fully recovered and was still being treated.

Turn Me Loose ($9) had a half neck over Politeness ($10) with another neck to Rock Sturdy ($31).

Meanwhile Darren Weir's amazing Flemington carnival has continued with Dandino providing the Melbourne Cup-winning trainer with another feature win.

Dandino missed out on a Melbourne Cup start but gained a consolation with a 1-3/4 length win in yesterday's Group Three Queen's Cup (2600m) from Godolphin's Secret Number, ridden by Kiwi James McDonald.

-AAP