Reworking Philosopher from a tearaway speed machine into a tractable sprinter has been one of the more demanding projects undertaken by Enver Jusufovic and his team.

The Zoustar gelding arrived at Jusufovic’s stable after beginning his career with Anthony and Sam Freedman, carrying a one-dimensional racing style built purely on speed.

Early on, Philosopher struggled to switch off, often overracing and failing to channel his natural ability.

That raw speed proved most effective around tighter circuits such as Mornington, Moonee Valley and Cranbourne, where he could dominate with early pressure.

As the gelding matured, however, he learned to settle and conserve energy, a transformation that culminated in his biggest success in the Listed W J Adams Stakes (1000m) at Sandown in January.

Since that victory, Philosopher has been unable to add to his tally in seven subsequent starts, and Jusufovic now feels the sprinter is best suited to the spacious expanses of Sandown or Flemington.

The trainer is hoping the gelding shows a return to form on Saturday when he lines up against six rivals in the Sportsbet More Places Handicap (1000m).

Philosopher comes off a last-place finish at Ballarat on December 6, a performance Jusufovic is willing to forgive due to 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.”

Jusufovic said recent trackwork has given him encouragement heading into Saturday.

“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.

“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.

“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.”

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