After all the hard work that has gone into getting Baraqiel back to the track, co-trainer Troy Corstens admitted his heart almost sank when the sprinter was pulled from the barriers to undergo a veterinary check on Saturday.
But after being given the all-clear to run, Baraqiel just over a minute later stormed to an impressive first-up victory in the Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
The Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin-trained sprinter will now chase a Moonee Valley Group 1 double, returning for the Moir Stakes (1000m) on September 6 and the Manikato Stakes (1200m) 20 days later.
Ridden by Ben Allen, Baraqiel ($3.60) scored a 1-¼ length victory from Midwest ($9.50) with Golden Boom ($6) a half neck away third.
Baraqiel was pulled out on race day at Caulfield from the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes last month when Racing Victoria vets ruled he was lame.
The sprinter was due to have his first start back from an injury enforced lay-off that day, and after meetings with RV vets and their own vet, the Corstens and Larkin stable was given the green light on Friday for Baraqiel to start again.
But Corstens was again thinking the worse when Baraqiel was removed from the barriers as the field was being loaded for Saturday’s contest
“The heart was fluttering beforehand,” Corstens said.
“It’s hard to tell from here and the next minute he’s getting backed out.
“Your heart sinks because of all the hard work that goes into him, but the stewards made the right decision and it’s great to see him back.
“He’s an amazing animal and I would have loved to have had him sound from an early age.
“What he’s been through is quite amazing and I can tell you what my staff have been through is quite amazing as well.
“It’s been a tough three to four weeks, but to work with vets at Racing Victoria and our own vet at home, so much has gone into this horse.”
Corstens said he was hoping for a soft ride from Allen with the Moir Stakes and Manikato Stakes coming up in the next month.
“I was hoping for a patient Ben, and I said to him beforehand that I’ve got my eye on one prize, I really want to win the Manikato,” Corstens said.
“I said if we can avoid giving him a hard run, let’s do that, so I was glad when that run popped up on the inside.”
Allen said Baraqiel, who had drawn barrier one, was impatient as he awaited the remainder of the field to be loaded.
“We were in barrier one, so we went in quite early,” Allen said.
“He was meant to run a few weeks ago and they had him wound up and ready to go, but he’s a big ball of muscle, a ball of energy and he was getting very impatient.
“All of a sudden, he decided to take on the front of the gates and after that I thought we wouldn’t be running, so luckily he got the all-clear and he proved what a good horse he is.”
