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Turk Warrior claims Elwick Stakes in a canter

3 minute read

Gold Sovereign and Magic Millions for Turk Warrior moving forward.

TURK WARRIOR winning the Elwick Stakes at Horbart in Austrailia. Picture: Tas Racing

Turk Warrior proved he is the best two-year-old in Tasmania with an effortless win in the $100,000 Tasmanian Bloodstock Elwick Stakes over 1100m on Sunday.

The Glenn Stevenson -trained gelding toyed with his rivals on debut in Hobart but this latest win was even more impressive.

Jockey Ismail Toker had the gelded son of Outreach settled fourth in a field of seven while Lacerate ($31) set the tempo with GeeGee Lucky Jess ($9.50) camped just off the speed and the second-elect Miss Charlie Brown ($2.80 to $4) was towards the rear.

Craig Newitt sent GeeGee Lucky Jess to the lead turning for home and tried to pinch a break, but Turk Warrior was still in second gear and when Toker released the reins the gelding quickly hauled in the leader.

Turk Warrior went on to defeat Miss Charlie Brown by almost two lengths with GeeGee Lucky Jess hanging on for third ahead of first starter Tappa Pass.

Stevenson was elated after the win.

"He is still doing a few things wrong in his races, but he only ever comes to the track on race days and at trials, so he is doing this all on raw ability," Stevenson said.

"We've always had an opinion of this horse and he starting to show it.

"He is such a relaxed unit. He comes all the way down to Hobart (from Wesley Vale) and he doesn't turn a hair."

Stevenson admitted he missed final acceptances for the Alexandra Plate in Launceston that was supposed to be the horse's second start.

"We missed the Alexandra Plate, so I gave him a trial and that was sufficient to have him ready for this race.

"We planned to give him four starts this preparation so know we can run him in the Gold Sovereign on 10 February and end his season in the Magic Millions Classic 11 days later."

Turk Warrior is owned by Seyit "Syd" Basol who was ecstatic after the win.

"This horse is my little champion and I love him," Basol said.

"Glenn (Stevenson) does a fantastic job in training him and Ismail is a great rider, so it is a big combination.

"I think the horse is only going to get better, so it is very exciting."