In his quest for glory in a premier Australian sprint, Baraqiel confronts tough weights for the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.
Three horses alone have carried beyond 57.5kg to win the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) since 1973’s metric shift, race due Saturday.
58.5kg was Hay List’s in 2012; Black Caviar’s flawless 58kg came in 2011, equalling Shaftesbury Avenue’s 1991 burden.
Baraqiel’s 57.5kg mirrors Redkirk Warrior’s successful weight for a second Newmarket in 2018, up from 52.5kg the year before.
It’s a tough ask for Baraqiel yet his handlers Leon and Troy Corstens with Will Larkin deem it surmountable.
Blinkers make their appearance as Baraqiel pursues another Group 1, building on the Moir Stakes (1000m) he won at Moonee Valley in spring.
Saturday serves as his second start this time in, after running fourth to Tentyris in Flemington’s Lightning Stakes (1000m) on February 14.
1.6 lengths adrift previously, a 3kg weight turn benefits Baraqiel here.
“I reckon he’s improved a lot out of that first-up run,” Larkin said.
“We trialled him last Friday just to tick him over and he’s going there in good order.
“We weren’t there to give him a real good test in the trial. We put the blinkers on him for the first time, and we wanted to get him out the back and see if he would settle.
“He managed that really well, so the blinkers will go on him on Saturday.”
Flemington’s straight could reward late runners Saturday, but Larkin favours keeping barrier three.
The position suits the gelding’s laying-in trait, and potential to be blocked before surging clear is seen as ideal.
“I prefer the inside draw to one outside,” Larkin said.
“We’re going to try and ride him like we did in the Moir. Smother him in there and leave it all late as his turn of foot is his asset and hopefully that gets him to the line.”
Baraqiel targets the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield March 21 next, with options open after.
“The William Reid has always been his Grand Final,” Larkin said.
“He’ll spin around the bend, third-up, which looks like it will shape up as a good race.
“After that we have got plenty of options for good prize money. There have been some talks about The Quokka or may be going up to Sydney as well.”
Secure the best value with betting sites offering Newmarket Handicap specials.