Successful in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1200m) last time in, Sniztel’s 7yo son 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.
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.
Speaking after the win, co-trainer Troy Corstens was clearly overjoyed by the win.
“I’m not sure I’m cut out for this anymore. I’m getting 51 and the heart was fluttering beforehand, I can tell you,” said Corstens referring to Baraquiel undergoing a last minute inspection behind the gates.
“It was not great, and it’s very hard to tell. We’re standing here, and next minute he gets backed out, and your heart sinks, because of all the hard work that’s gone into him.
“But the stewards made the right decision, and we get the result that we wanted… he’s an amazing animal. I would’ve loved to have had him sound from an early age.”
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.
“I said to him (Allen), we got the eye on the the prize, I really want to win the Manikato, so if we can avoid giving him a hard run, let’s do that,” Corstens said.
“When that run came up the inside, it was great… we’ll be going Moir, 100%.
“We were a bit worried about the 1000 (meters) coming into today. I think we’ve put that to bed.”
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, Anthony Freedman Racing and Blue Sky Bloodstock.
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.
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