
Trainer Enver Jusufovic will give his Group 1 winner Pinstriped a trial at Cranbourne in preparation for his racing return at Caulfield.
Pinstriped is earmarked to resume in the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) on Saturday and is down to trial over 800m at Cranbourne on Monday.
The trial is one of the hot heats of the morning, scheduled for 7am, to beat Monday’s heat.
“He’s heading to the Orr Stakes first-up,” Jusufovic said.
“His two jump-outs have been quite good and he’s on target, but I’ll trial him on Monday and that will be his final gallop ahead of the Orr Stakes.”
Pinstriped supplied Jusufovic with his biggest victory when successful in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield last August.
The gelding has been plagued by back issues throughout his career and was given a break after running sixth behind Globe in the Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m) in November.
“His back has been great this time in and the way he’s going, he should be in for a good prep,” Jusufovic said.
Ben Allen will ride Pinstriped in Monday’s trial although a decision on who will partner the gelding in the Group 1 contest on Saturday is yet to be finalised.
Meanwhile Jusufovic will bite the bullet with Philospher and head to the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on February 15.
Philosopher returned to winning form at Sandown last week when successful in the Listed W J Adams Stakes (1000m).
It was the gelding’s first win since beating three opponents over 955m at Moonee Valley in February 2024.
“He’s very fit, he pulled-up great and he’s going super,” Jusufovic said.
“He nearly broke the track record the other day, and I think he’s better suited at Flemington as opposed to Caulfield.”
Philosopher has appreciated being on spacious tracks in his past two starts at Geelong and Sandown and for that reason Jusufovic is keen to try him at Flemington.
“You don’t know until you try,” Jusufovic said.
“Because they’re quick, you just think they’ll scoot around, but when you put them under pressure, it can find them out.
“That’s why big tracks suit him.”