The Lee and Anthony Freedman-trained Malaguerra fought tenaciously under Glen Colless to wrestle back the lead from Dothraki in Saturday's $500,000 Group 1 Ubet BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben to credit Sun Stud's stallion Magnus with his second winner at the highest level.
In a thrilling finish, Malaguerra defeated Blake Shinn's mount Dothraki (Mossman) by a short-half-head with favourite Japonisme (Choisir) one and a quarter length back in third. (photo Lisa Grimm)
Shinn had ridden Malaguerra at his previous two starts, a win in the Group III Star Kingdom Stakes at Rosehill and when unplaced in the Group I All aged Stakes at Randwick.
Watching the race on television from Morphettville where he was overseeing Cool Chap's bid for the South Australian Derby, Lee Freedman said he thought Dothraki had his charge beaten.
"I thought he got the photo but I thought he was done cold in the last 200m," Freedman said.
"The other horse got to him and probably put a head on him but it was a great effort."
"We just didn't know (whether he was a Group I horse) so all I could do was front him up at weight-for-age again and hope we got a bit of luck," Freedman said.
"I didn't think he'd be a Group I horse as quickly as he has been.
"We've got to go into the Stradbroke now as one of the leading chances. I think 1400 is better for him than 1200m."
Knocked down to B Micalizzi/Bluegrass Bloodstock for $32,000 at the 2013 Inglis VOBIS Gold Yearling sale, Malaguerra advances his overall record to 10 wins and 2 seconds from 18 starts for earnings of $758,100.
He is the 16th foal of the stakes-winning Bletchingly mare Tennessee Morn whose previous best had been the Listed stakes-winner Tennessee Midnight (Danehill), the dam of Group 1 Coolmore Classic winner Aloha (Encosta de Lago) and the dam of Group II winner My Emotion (Savabeel).
The 26yo Tennessee Morn's final foal is the 3yo Wanted colt Tennessee Outlaw. She was covered by Magnus again last spring but died on March 15.
