15 minutes in the barriers: How Egyptologist finally conquered his barrier demons, 7 bans later

Egyptologist had rightfully been labelled a barrier rogue, but Gulgong trainer Brett Thompson has proven that he doesn’t have a barrier-phobia rather just gets excited when he gets to the races.

The five-year-old scored his latest win at Hawkesbury last Thursday after spending 15 minutes calmly standing in gates before the race.

Not the behaviour of a horse that had been banned seven times for refusing to load.

But Thompson’s patience has found a routine that works with Egyptologist by understanding what makes him tick.

“That was a little longer than usual [at Hawkesbury], but he is happy just to stand there,” Thompson said. “He was probably on his last chance, and we changed a few things and with the help of the stewards we found what works for him.

“He didn’t have a problem with the barriers, he just got too excited when he was about to race.

“He would walk into the mounting yard with the other horses and know what was about to happen, and the adrenaline would get him too pumped up.

“It would take over.

“He would calm down a bit on the way to the gates but when he got there with the other horses, the adrenaline would take over again.

“And he would go in.”

Egyptologist had been barred for refusing to load record amount of times, it would be fair to assume Egyptologist had a problem with the barriers.

Thompson had persisted with him when many would have given up and this preparation has found the key, which includes jockey Jake Pracey-Holmes, and has delivered wins at Wellington and Hawkesbury.

It is about keeping him away from other runners and letting him feel at home in the barriers.

“One of the owners gave on him and gave me his share, and I said we will keep going as long as we do it my way,” Thompson said.

“Jake knows what the horse needs, so he is our jockey.

“He gets on straight away when he comes in and takes him to the gates and then they get him in before the other horses get there.

“He just stands there and waits and it means we can see his best on the track.

“You saw how he fought back at Hawkesbury before, he had no energy to do that.