HE IS BACK BARAQIEL EASILY WINS THE CARLYON STKS

Successful in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1200m) last time in, Bennett Racing outstanding 7yo Baraqiel continued his outstanding record at the Moonee Valley circuit, resuming to win the Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m) first up, highlighting potential Group 1 spring aims.
Trained by Leon and Troy Corstens in partnership with Will Larkin, Baraqiel was quick out of the gates, but didn’t have the speed of the Anthony and Sam Freedman trained Midwest (Zoustar) who took up the running, with the consistent son of Snitzel settling back in fourth, getting a lovely trail into the race along the rails. As Midwest did what he knows best, the Rosemont Stud raced gelding led the field into the home turn, and while jockey Jamie Mott was riding him along, he was still showing plenty of fight.
Clearly with plenty of horse underneath him, jockey but Ben Allen came along the rail aboard Baraqiel to win the race by a length and a quarter from Midwest.
Holding on after being up on the pace, Tony Gollan’s Golden Boom (Spirt Of Boom) was close up in third in what was a very solid first up effort.
Baraqiel has overcome a pre-race fright to win the Listed Carlyon Stakes first-up, two weeks on from a controversial scratching.
The Malau Racing-trained gelding, now a winner of seven races from 11 starts, including the Group 2 McEwen Stakes at the same track this season, was withdrawn by stewards on raceday a fortnight ago due to concerns with his trotting action.
The stable ensured Baraqiel, who has suffered multiple long-term issues during his career, was cleared by Racing Victoria vets during the week, but there was still pre-race drama when he was examined by vets behind the gates.
He was passed fit, but stewards ordered another quick check to ensure he didn’t have blood under his mouth.
However, none of it mattered to the to the seven-year-old when the gate sprung open as he jumped well and settled in the box seat behind leader Midwest ($12).
Baraqiel ($3.50) and Ben Allen desperately needed the run to appear in the straight, but he was too strong when it came, railing to win smartly first-up since the Meteorite last November.
We must thank Ciaron Maher and his team for the initial work they did on Baz at the start of his rehab. It was extremely kind of them to offer the use of the hyperbaric chamber at their Bong Bong property in NSW to kickstart the healing process.
Will Larkin (Malua) has been magnificent in overseeing the next phases of the rehab and training leading all the way to his return to racing and what a return it was.
With a host of Group 1 sprints as possible spring plans for the gelding, Saturday’s win took Baraqiel’s record to seven wins and three thirds from 11 starts with earnings of $674,025. With the plan to head to the Group 1 Moir Stakes next start followed by the Group 1 Manikato Stakes – both at the Valley, Baraqiel will be out to continue his unbeaten run at the track.
The second stakes winner of the day by Snitzel sold by Arrowfield Stud at the Magic Millions yearling sale, Baraqiel was a $150,000 purchase for Bennett Racing.
Baraqiel is a three-quarter brother to Group 1 ATC Australian Oaks winner Autumn Angel out of the Group 3 winner Angel Of Mercy (Hussonet) who has an unraced 3yo filly named Kindred Spirit (The Autumn Sun), followed by colts by Maurice (Jpn) and Hitotsu.
Unfortunately, Angel Mercy missed to Snitzel last spring so there will be no foal this season.
Baraqiel is one of 161 stakes winner for Arrowfield Stud’s multiple Champion Sire Snitzel who enjoyed a strakes double after the earlier win of Lazzura in the Group 3 Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) at Randwick.
Congratulations to all owners in Baraqiel and thankyou to Malua Racing.