Off the back of his impressive last start Listed Norman Carlyon Stakes victory at the same track, Snitzel gelding Baraqiel had everyone talking, and rightfully so, as he justified the faith of his trainers, charging late to win the $750,000 Group 1 MVRC Moir Stakes (1000m) in the Bennett Racing silks.
About as consistent as they come, having only finished outside the top three just once in his 12-start career, the Leon & Troy Corstens & Will Larkin-trained gelding jumped away the second favourite in the large 14 horse field.
From the middle of the line, jockey Ben Allen allowed the gelding to drift to mid-field with the unbeaten Esha (Extreme Choice) taking up the running from Midwest (Zoustar) and Alabama Lass (Alabama Express) who also settled handy.
In the tightly packed field, Alabama Lass went to the lead in the straight, with Arabian Summer (Too Darn Hot) darting back towards the inside to commence her run before Allen surged between the pair aboard Baraqiel to get up to record his first elite level victory.
Baraqiel’s victory took his record to eight wins and three third placed performances from 12 starts with earnings of $1,128,025.
Moonee Valley has been a happy hunting ground for syndicator Nathan Bennett with their most recent Group 1 winner Southport Tycoon (Written Tycoon) winning the Manikato Stakes – a race that Baraqiel will now target on September 26.
When asked if it was his biggest achievement as a trainer, Troy Corstens didn’t hesitate.
“100 per cent,” said Corstens.
“It's amazing and to do it with him. It's very special.
“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.
Co-trainer Will Larkin was clearly emotional after the win.
“So much hard work goes into it,” said Larkin.
“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.”
It was the third Group 1 victory for Allen who was clearly over joyed.
“It's unbelievable,” said Allen.
“I always said the last 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."
“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."
“I wasn't laughing in the run, I was absolutely cursing (thinking), 'I hate friggin' races at The Valley in Group 1s, it's so difficult', but I was lucky I had the right horse. He's just got that dog in him."
Bred by Arrowfield Group Pty Ltd and Jungle Pocket Pty Ltd, Baraqiel was a $150,000 purchase for Bennett Racing, Anthony Freedman Racing and Blue Sky Bloodstock from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the Magic Millions yearling sale.
Becoming the second Group 1 winner out of the Group 3 winning Angel Of Mercy (Hussonet), joining Group 1 ATC Australian Oaks winner Autumn Angel (The Autumn Sun), the mare 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 became the 24th individual Group 1 winner for Arrowfield Stud’s multiple Champion Sire Snitzel.
