News

All Aged Stakes 2016: Malaguerra formline challenged again

16th Apr 2016

Herald Sun - Matt Stewart - Friday 15 April 2016

MALAGUERRA is many things to many people, and he hasn’t even won a decent race yet.

To the Inglis sales company, Malaguerra is a poster boy.

At Caulfield on Saturday one of the company’s great innovations, the VOBIS Gold yearling sale, translates to huge payday opportunities for horses nominated for the scheme — most of them sale graduates — including bonuses attached to four races worth $250,000.

Malaguerra, who cost just $32,000 as a yearling at the VOBIS Gold sale, which is being conducted again over the next two days, has won $432,000.

He would have been a banner graduate had he run at Caulfield but Malaguerra will instead run at Randwick, where he can prove the ultimate example of the “Malaguerra formline.’’

Social media and racing’s various preview shows have turned Malaguerra into a cult horse, via constant often humorous references to the strength of form surrounding Malaguerra’s string of wins in Melbourne last spring.

Horses well beaten by Malaguerra have a habit of emerging from those losses to win at their next start, often at good odds.

Co-trainer Lee Freedman is well aware Malaguerra is more famous for his form line than his big race deeds.

“Yeah I’m well aware of the way he’s gained some sort of cult following,’’ Freedman said.

“His strapper brought him back from the track the other day and said “do you know why he’s so good? He’s got the Malaguerra form!’’

The reality rather than the Malaguerra myth will be put to the test on Saturday when the sprinter takes on a smart field in the $600,000 All Aged Stakes at Randwick.

He has never been tested at Group 1 level or at weight-for-age but such is the hype, Malaguerra is the $4.40 second favourite behind Press Statement ($3).

“It’s a big step, for sure,’’ Freedman said. “But as good a field as it is — and you’d expect so at weight-for-age — it’s probably not as strong as some editions.

“There’s no Winx and other than the three-year-old (Press Statement) we’re all in a similar boat.

“He was good winning (at Rosehill) last start but this is a different box and dice. Having said that we don’t know his limit yet and I think 1400m is will be his best distance.

“Besides, he’s got the Malaguerra form.”