Connections of Darley Classic winning sprinter Malaguerra are confident their fit five-year-old will be as effective over 1400m and shapes-up as the horse to beat in Saturdayâs 2017 Ladbrokes CF Orr Stakes.
First-up Australia Stakes winner Malaguerra is out to extend his brilliance to 1400m in the Ladbrokes CF Orr Stakes 2017 on Saturday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Seventeen nominations were taken on Monday for the $500,000 Group 1 Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) including the Peter Gelagotis-trained son of Magnus Malaguerra.
A winner of over $1.5 million in career prize money, the galloper is best known for his two Group 1 wins from last year completing the BTC Cup â Darley Classic interstate double.
After his narrow Darley Classic success down the Flemington straight in November, Malaguerra travelled west to Perth later in the month and was far from disgraced when a length away fifth to Takedown in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m).
First-up the horse showed he had lost none of his shine over the break winning the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on January 27 by an easy two lengths.
It was an equal track record with Malaguerra flying home in 1:09.29 seconds to match that of Miss Andretti, without jockey Ben Melham fulling extending him.
He now chases a third elite level win running at Caulfield on the weekend for the first time since his second to gun three-year-old Star Turn at the track last October in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m).
That was his first run at Caulfield Racecourse since his 10th to Earthquake as a two-year-old in the 2014 edition of the Blue Diamond Stakes.
Arguably most effective over a sprint distance of 1100m â 1200m, Malaguerra has also extended out to the 1400m of the CF Orr Stakes on six occasions.
From those six runs over the increased distance he has posted two victories, most recently during the Melbourne Cup Carnival of 2015.
His last run over the metres was in Brisbane back in June, crossing a well-beaten ninth to Under The Louvre in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) when still prepared by Lee & Anthony Freedman.
The team wonât be put off however and Gelagotisâs brother and the stableâs racing manager Manny was full of confidence heading into the race.
âYeah it’s frightening [how well he’s going]. He’s in rare form,” Manny told Racing Victoria on Tuesday.
“I thought he was extremely deadly the other night at Moonee Valley.
“I couldn’t see any reason why he won’t train on and do the same thing over seven [furlongs].
“If he had another run over 12 [hundred metres], I’d say he’d be a bit flat, but I think he’ll really, really enjoy the 1400m and I can’t wait to see him.
“He had a nice conditioning gallop this morning; he’s ticking over beautifully for Saturday.
“We’re pleased with the condition he’s in; we’re looking forward to getting him out over the 1400m.
“He’s clearly looking for it as well.
“Very happy with him, he’s in a good space but in good form.”
Pre-field CF Orr Stakes betting at race sponsor Ladbrokes.com.au have Malaguerra as the close $4 second elect behind Darren Weirâs Australia Stakes runner-up Black Heart Bart who is a 1400m specialist (11-6-4-0).
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