| Baraqiel overcame traffic to continue his march toward the elite level of Australia’s sprinters with a barnstorming win in today’s Group One AJ Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley. |
| Despite suffering interference on the turn and in the early stages of the short straight, the outstanding son of Snitzel produced a paralysing burst to get a late split and win emphatically. Sent out a $6 chance with bookmakers, Baraqiel finished too strongly for New Zealand mare Alabama Lass ($6.50), while another classy mare Arabian Summer ($16) was a breath away in third place. Baraqiel is trained by the father and son team of Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkins and for Troy it provided the most amazing of thrills. “100 per cent,” when asked if it was a career highlight. “It’s amazing, and to do it with him. It’s very special.” Baraqiel has had his share of injury issues during his short racetrack career and that adds more satisfaction to today’s elite victory. “I think about it every day. With him, he’s so fragile. You never know when it’s coming. You know it’s going to come and you hope you can hold him together for as long as we can. He loves it here.” Corstens’ co-trainer Will Larkin was also beaming from the winners stall after the win of the $150,000 yearling purchase. “So much hard work goes into it,” Larkin said. “The whole team at home, we’re pretty much patching him up every day at home. You get to this point and it’s quite emotional.” “I was very nervous at the top of the straight. I thought we were going to go to the line untested. His turn of foot is just so brilliant. He’s such a good horse and what he can do when he’s got clear air, is unbelievable.” “It’s been massive, right from when I started with Leon and Troy we’ve been patching him together. We’ve had so many setbacks. You have to think on your feet all the time and not overwork them and use the time to get them up to speed.” “We had a bit of a rope around us at the start of the preparation when we wanted to kick him off at Caulfield, but he was scratched there, but it’s come to the fore. It’s huge for the team to get him through that and get him to this level.” The win was the third at the elite level for talented rider and accomplished DJ Ben Allen. “It’s unbelievable to get it for these owners and the Malua Racing team. What a story, what a horse.” “The amount of setbacks and how patient and persistent they’ve had to be with him, it’s unbelievable.” Allen said there were plenty of anxious moments during the race – but he gained confidence knowing how much talent was underneath him. “I wasn’t laughing in the run, I was absolutely cursing (thinking), ‘I hate friggin’ races at The Valley in Group Ones, it’s so difficult’, but I was lucky I had the right horse. He’s just got that dog in him.” “It’s unbelievable,” Allen said. “I always said the last one (Group One) was better than the first one and this is better than the last one. You never know when they’re going to come. They’re so hard to come by.” Baraqiel was purchased by the Bennett Racing team and Julian Blaxland for $150,000 from the draft of Arrowfield Stud and he boasts the record of eight wins from just 12 starts. His earnings have shot to over $1.1 million. By the champion former Arrowfield Stud sire Snitzel, Baraqiel is from Angel of Mercy, a Group Three winning daughter of Hussonet. He is therefore a half brother to Group One Australian Oaks winner Autumn Angel. Winner: Baraqiel Breeding: Snitzel-Angel of Mercy (Hussonet) Race: MVRC AJ Moir Stakes G1 (1000m) Sold for: $150,000 Sale: 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale Earnings: $1,128,025 Breeder: Arrowfield Group Pty Ltd, Jungle Pocket Pty Ltd Vendor: Arrowfield Stud Buyer: Bennett Racing, Freedman Racing & Blue Sky Bloodstock Owners: NP Bennett, J Falcke, W Freeman, A Patten, S McKenna, A Stanley, Bennett Angel Of Mercy (Mgr: N Bennett), Against the Bias (Mgr: D Slattery), Trowel (Mgr: J Wicks), Brat Racing (Mgr: B Porters), Bakerland (Mgr: A Downard), Barwon Boys (Mgr: W Handley), D K M Alliance (Mgr: A Debeen) & Mad Mates Trainers: Leon & Troy Corstens & Will Larkin |
