Trainer Peter Gelagotis has revealed that star sprinter Malaguerra will be freshened-up for the 2017 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) on April 1^st after finishing midfield in the Group 1 Ladbrokes CF Orr Stakes at Caulfield over the weekend.

Malaguerra will freshen-up ahead of the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes on Day 1 of The Championships

Malaguerra started the Ladbrokes CF Orr Stakes as a firm $3.80 second-favourite following a classy first-up win in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m), but the five-year-old failed to produce much in the final straight and faded to finish sixth; three lengths off winner Black Heart Bart.

Gelagotis is unsure why the Magnus gelding was unable to find the line well in the CF Orr Stakes and believes that an appearance in the 2017 TJ Smith Stakes on Day 1 of The Championships following a freshen-up is the correct course of action for the horse.

“The jury’s out a bit. Maybe the barrier and a couple of other little things that happened behind the scenes on track might not have helped his plight either and I think his brilliant win first-up might have taken a bit out of him and he might have been a bit flat second-up,” Gelagotis told Racing Victoria.

“He’s come through the run really well so he’ll be freshened up now and he’ll be targeted towards the T.J. Smith.

“His fresh record is impeccable. He’s had six starts fresh for five wins and a second and he was so emphatic fresh in the Australia Stakes that we came to the conclusion he’d be best served by spacing his runs.”

Malaguerra began his 2016 racing campaign under the guidance of Lee & Anthony Freedman and posted a number of impressive results, highlighted by his maiden win at the highest level in the Group 1 BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben on May 14^th.

Transferred to the care of Gelagotis prior to spring, Malaguerra resumed for a smart second in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m) before holding on to win the Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m) on November 5^th; returning to the paddock after failing to fire and fifth in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) on November 26^th.

Malaguerra has drifted to 2017 TJ Smith Stakes odds of $15 at Ladbrokes.com.au following his lacklustre second-up performance.