Reworking a horse with a raw and relentless burst of speed into a disciplined, tractable sprinter is no small feat, yet Enver Jusufovic and his team have embraced that challenge with Philosopher. The Zoustar gelding, known for his early-career explosiveness, has undergone a careful transformation aimed at harnessing his natural talent while tempering the elements of his racing style that previously caused inconsistency.
Philosopher began his career in the stables of Anthony and Sam Freedman, where his approach to racing was singularly defined by speed. His early outings showcased a horse who could sprint like few others, but the focus on early acceleration came at a cost. The gelding often found it difficult to settle during races, regularly overracing and struggling to convert his natural ability into winning performances over varying distances.
“Early on, Philosopher struggled to switch off, often overracing and failing to channel his natural ability,” Jusufovic explained. That tendency made the gelding particularly effective on tighter tracks such as Mornington, Moonee Valley, and Cranbourne, where his speed could dominate from the front. The smaller circuits allowed Philosopher to make the most of his early acceleration, putting pressure on rivals from the outset and often overwhelming them with sheer pace.
As Philosopher matured, however, a transformation took place. Through careful training, the gelding gradually learned to settle, conserve energy, and develop a more rounded approach to racing. This evolution culminated in his standout victory in the Listed W J Adams Stakes (1000m) at Sandown in January, a performance that highlighted his ability to combine speed with composure. That win remains a career highlight and a testament to Jusufovic’s methodical work with the horse.
Despite that breakthrough, Philosopher has struggled to add further victories, going winless in his seven starts since the Sandown triumph. While this run may have caused some concern, Jusufovic believes the gelding’s best opportunities lie on the bigger tracks of Sandown and Flemington, where space allows him to settle and finish strongly.
Philosopher will have a chance to demonstrate his renewed form in the Sportsbet More Places Handicap (1000m) at Caulfield this Saturday, where he will face six rivals. Coming off a last-place finish at Ballarat on December 6, the gelding’s most recent performance had some mitigating factors, particularly concerning track conditions.
“There was a couple of downgrades, and he has shown in the past when it’s shifty, or loose underfoot, that he is not a confident horse,” Jusufovic said. “He’s got a big action, and he just finds it uncomfortable.”
Despite that setback, recent trackwork has suggested Philosopher may be ready to bounce back. Jusufovic highlighted improvements in the horse’s demeanor and willingness during training sessions leading into the Caulfield assignment.
“I’ve been happy with his work, and he’s come back a bit more relaxed this time in,” Jusufovic said. “But I think everything has to go pretty much right on the day for him. If there’s good tempo and he can be a few lengths off them, rather than being right up on the speed, that will give him the opportunity to finish off.”
Jusufovic acknowledged that there have been excuses in several of Philosopher’s recent runs but expressed hope that the gelding could replicate his past potential on race day.
“There have been excuses in a lot of his starts recently, but you would just like to see him produce it on race day again,” he said.
While the Caulfield circuit presents its own challenges, particularly the Heath track, Jusufovic remains optimistic about Philosopher’s chances. His preference remains for larger tracks like Sandown and Flemington, where the gelding can settle and unleash his finishing burst, but he believes the horse can perform well if the race unfolds favorably.
“My preference nowadays with him is a big track like Sandown and Flemington, rather than the tighter Caulfield circuit, in particular the Heath track, but I’m still expecting him to run well,” Jusufovic said.
The Sportsbet More Places Handicap is expected to attract attention from punters, particularly those looking to gauge whether Philosopher can rediscover the form that made him a standout in the Listed W J Adams Stakes. For enthusiasts seeking to follow the gelding’s return to form, multiple bookmakers and betting platforms will provide comparisons and race-day updates, though the focus remains squarely on the horse’s ability to translate his recent positive work into tangible performance on the Caulfield turf.
Philosopher’s journey from an untamed speed merchant to a more composed sprinter underscores the intricacies of racehorse training and the patience required to unlock a horse’s full potential. While his career has seen highs and lows, this weekend presents another opportunity for the gelding to show that the careful work of Jusufovic and his team has laid the groundwork for success in conditions that suit him best. The Sportsbet More Places Handicap promises an intriguing test for Philosopher, as connections and spectators alike watch closely to see if he can turn promise into performance once again.
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