Sunday, December 22, 2024

Caulfield success for late starter Baraqiel

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Baraqiel was wayward but still packed too much punch at Caulfield on Saturday to stay unbeaten.

The feel-good galloper, trained by Leon and Troy Corstens, hit the front at the top of the straight and sprinted clear in the Benchmark 84 (1200m) only then to shy at the grandstand and winning post.

Legio Ten threatened to pinch the race, with a late rally toward the inside rail, but Baraqiel held on.

“He’s still doing a lot wrong, he’s kind of like a two-year-old,” Troy Corstens, who trains in partnership with his father Leon, said.

“You got to remember it’s only his fourth start.

“When he got out in front he just did a few things wrong, we can iron those wrinkles out and get him right.”

The metropolitan win capped a whirlwind eight weeks for the Corstens yard and patient Baraqiel owners after successes Sale, Pakenham and Swan Hill.

The rising six-year-old, with a perfect four start record, only made it to the racetrack for the first time in early May after tendon and knee issues stalled his development and progression.

“It’s been a long, long wait with this horse but I think he’s going to repay us in spades,” Corstens said.

“You don’t put that time in, or be that patient, with a horse that hasn’t got that ability, he showed us that ability right from the start so it has been easy to say ‘we got to wait, we got to stop’.

“It’s been really time consuming but he’s really worth it.”

Corstens appreciated the special city win with Baraqiel and potential for more success.

“It’s very hard to win four races in a row, that’s not lost on me,” Corstens said.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever had a horse win four races in a row, I’m not sure to be honest, it’s a difficult thing to do and he’s taken that natural progression and I think he can.

“We always thought he was a serious horse, it is just a matter of developing him now and keeping him sound and seeing where he can take us.”

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