Moir Stakes winner Baraqiel will attempt to join the sprinting elite as he resumes in Saturday’s Lightning Stakes at Flemington and could also position him for a shot at international glory.
Trainer Troy Corstens accepts the Lightning over 1000m down the Flemington straight is where the seven-year-old belongs.
“He has to take the best sprinters now as a group 1 winner, and I think he is good enough to match them on his day,” Corstens said.
“There are a lot of options for him this year, but this had to be the starting point and could tell us where to go.
“He is probably weighted out of the Oakleigh Plate because he would get 59kg there, so we have to take the Giga Kicks and Tentyrises and let him prove himself at the top level.”
Baraqiel finished his spring campaign winning the Moir Stakes before being runner-up to Charm Stone in the Manikato Stakes.
If he wins the Lightning he would join Royal Ascot winners Nature Strip, Black Caviar and Miss Andretti in completing the Moir-Lightning double as well as Coolangatta and Schillaci.
Baraqiel hasn’t won down the straight in three attempts, with two thirds in benchmark company, but Corstens is confident he will be at career peak on Saturday.
“I think horses get better down the straight as they mature. This is a test because we don’t have the Valley anymore,” Corstens said.
“He actually went really good down the straight in a jumpout the other day, so I think he is ready to run well.
“If he did, we have an entry for Dubai, where they race down the straight, and it would become an option, but we have ruled out anything including the Oakleigh Plate and Galaxy.
“He could end up in Sydney or Melbourne in any number of group 1 races, but I think he is in for a great preparation.”
Baraqiel is kept safe in the Lightning betting where Coolmore Stud Stakes winning colt Tentyris is the $2.20 favourite in front of Giga Kick at $4.
