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Victorian trainer Peter Gelagotis is counting on the addition of blinkers to bring out the best in his classy sprinter Malaguerra in Saturday’s $1 million Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot.
Gelagotis has announced that Malaguerra will wear blinkers for the first time in the Winterbottom Stakes in a bid to get him back to winning form.
Malaguerra, a dual G1 winner, has not won for 22 months since he was successful in the 2017 Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley.He missed almost 12 months of racing after he suffered an injury in the G1 Darley Classic at Flemington last spring when he was attempting to win that race for the second time.
Malaguerra resumed in the G1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley last month, finishing 12th in a field of 14 behind the Japanese import Brave Smash.The 7YO gelding wore winkers early in his career when trained by Lee and Anthony Freedman. He had the addition of pre-race ear muffs notified as a gear change before the Manikato Stakes.
Gelagotis said he hopes the addition of blinkers will get Malaguerra to “switch on” in the Winterbottom Stakes."We're trying something different. It's not a thing I usually do but it's seems to work well for other older horses and he has worked well in them," Gelagotis reported.
Malaguerra bounced out of the Manikato Stakes to win a barrier trial over 800m at Cranbourne on November 12 and had a draw to suit from gate seven in the Winterbottom Stakes."I'm really happy with him. I thought his trial was outstanding," Gelagotis said.
“He's the soundest he's ever been. He's lightly raced and still has plenty left to give."Gelagotis believes the Victorian contingent can dominate the local sprinters in the Winterbottom Stakes, naming last year’s winner Viddora as the horse to beat.
"Viddora is the benchmark, she's a class above everything else," he said.Trainer Lloyd Kennewell also gave Viddora an easy Cranbourne barrier trial prior to her flight to WA and has been delighted with her progress in Perth after an impressive fast gallop at Ascot on Tuesday.
“She loves travelling and seems to thrive in the warmer weather,” Kennewell said.“She has been set for it in exactly the same way as last year. She will just need some luck in running and will be hard to beat."
In the last 12 months Viddora has raced in WA, Queensland, South Australia, NSW and Victoria, winning at the Magic Millions meeting at the Gold Coast in January and adding the G1 Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley in September to her record.She has been freshened since she failed to cope with the wet track when tenth behind Redzel in last month's $13 million Everest at Randwick.
Viddora is a firm favourite to become the fourth dual winner of the Winterbottom Stakes since 2000, joining Hardrada (2002-03), Ortensia (2009, 2011) and Buffering (2013, 2015).Malaguerra and Viddora are the only G1 winners in the Winterbottom and on that score are favoured by the weight-for-age conditions.
The Darren Weir-trained Voodoo Lad has been placed twice in G1 company and will be popular with punters with Damien Oliver as his rider despite his wide barrier (14).Oliver rode Voodoo Lad when he won the G3 Aurie's Star Stakes (1200m) at Flemington at the start of the spring.
The sprinter has been kept fresh since he beat Malaguerra home when he finished eighth in the Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley on October 26.In form trio Ashlor, Runson and I’ll Have A Bit complete the Victorian contingent in the Winterbottom Stakes.
The much-travelled Malibu Style, prepared by top Perth trainer Neville Parnham, has returned home for the sprint after doing all his racing this year in Melbourne.He has recorded four of his 10 wins in Melbourne and can improve on his 12th in last year’s Winterbottom Stakes after a last start win at Sandown in the Listed Doveton Stakes, beating Bons Away and I’ll Have A Bit.