It is not often a horse is burdened with 65.5kg in a race on a Saturday metropolitan card.
That is the impost Philosopher was burdened with in the Evergreen Turf Handicap (1000m) at Caulfield Heath on Saturday before the 3kg claim of apprentice Sheridan Clarke.
Trainer Enver Jusufovic explained there was a lack of suitable 1000m races for the sprinter in coming weeks for the 85-rated galloper who goes around in Benchmark 74 company on Saturday.
“There’s no races for his rating over 1000 metres for quite a while,” Jusufovic said.
“So, he’ll have this start, and we’ll see how he performs as to whether he has a little break or has another run that’s over 1100 metres, but he’s strictly a 1000-metre horse, it appears.”
Philosopher is coming off a last start 13th in The Meteorite (1200m) at Cranbourne on November 23 which followed a fourth-place finish in the Century Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on November 7.
Jusufovic said Philosopher had to do too much early work in The Meteorite.
“Initially he was set for the Apache Classic, but that race is off the card now, and in The Meteorite, they just made him work too hard to get across and he needed all the favours,” Jusufovic said.
“I still think he can get 1200 metres in a lesser class of race, but he needs things to go his way.
“He pulled up alright, and he had an easy jump-out on Monday under a good hold and, so his fitness levels are really good.”
Jusufovic said he may be forced to run Philosopher at 1100m at his next outing with the Listed Christmas Stakes on the Caulfield Heath a possibility.
“The owner mentioned there was a race, but I’m not too sure,” Jusufovic said.
“We’ll see how he performs on Saturday.”
Jusufovic also has the consistent galloper Vongole down to contest the Sportsbet More Places Handicap (1200m) on Saturday.
However, Vongole has drawn the widest barrier in the 14-horse field.
“He’s drawn the car park, but he’s a get-back horse and I’m really happy with the way he’s going this prep,” Jusufovic said.
“His three runs have been full of merit, but hes going to need a lot of luck in that field.”
