Tagaloa was a star last autumn and connections are aiming big time this year starting with the Manfred Stakes

Tagaloa will answer plenty of questions with his performance in Saturday’s Group 3 Manfred Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.

The colt was among the best of his age as a two-year-old last season, winning the Blue Diamond and finishing fourth in the Golden Slipper. But his three-year-old season hasn’t reached the same heights as yet.

Victoria-based Yulong Investments bought into Tagaloa as a stallion prospect but the colt went winless in three spring runs.

Tagaloa finished third first-up in the McNeil Stakes before finishing less than two lengths from the top Adelaide galloper Behemoth in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.

That effort against older horses posted Tagaloa as a $4.20 equal favourite in the Caulfield Guineas but he pulled up with a problem when failing to beat a runner home in the $2 million event.

Co-trainer Trent Busuttin said Tagaloa has progressed well since returning his Cranbourne stable but only race pressure will show whether the colt is back to his best in the Manfred Stakes.

Tagaloa was an unplaced favourite in the 2020 Caulfield Guineas last October. Photo: Brett Holburt/Racing Photos via Getty Images.Source:Getty Images

“He’s tracking really well,” Busuttin, who trains Tagaloa in partnership with Natalie Young, said.

“Racing pressure, trackwork pressure and trial pressure are all different so you won’t know for sure.

“But if you take one bad run out of the equation, his first and second runs of the spring were good enough to win this race.”

Tagaloa is a $3.60 chance to beat his five rivals in the Manfred Stakes.

Busuttin said he had a healthy respect for Caulfield Guineas runner-up Aysar, who also is resuming in the Manfred Stakes, and the unbeaten Godolphin three-year-old Dickin Medal.

“Aysar was second in the Caulfield Guineas so he’s obviously a very good horse and Godolphin’s horse goes all right but if Tagaloa is at his best, he’s going close to winning,” Busuttin said.

“But no matter what you say, there’s a little query on him.”

Mark Zahra will ride Tagaloa in the Manfred Stakes.

Originally published asCan Tagaloa get back to his best in Manfred?

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