Baraqiel’s recovery surprises Will Larkin

Baraqiel is mounting a promising comeback from injury and could make a return to racing before the 2024/25 season concludes, according to co-trainer Will Larkin.

The lightly raced six-year-old looked like a top-tier sprinter in the making after storming home in the McEwen Stakes (1200m). But his third-place finish in the debut running of The Meteorite (1200m) left connections concerned after he pulled up sore.

“Going back to the replay, you can see halfway down the straight, he put in a bad stride,” Larkin said.

“He pulled up very sore after that run and sure enough, the scans confirmed he did a suspensory.”

The initial prognosis was unclear, but Baraqiel has responded well to his recovery plan. He returned in a quiet jump out over 800m at Werribee on July 4 and impressed the stable with his condition.

“He was just there for a soft one for his first one back off a long break, didn’t do a lot, but he’s still excellent,” Larkin said.

“He’s really good. He’s been kind of slow building since January so he’s been in work a long time.

“The way our program works, they come in and come out, into work and out of work. He’s coming along really well. He hasn’t had an unsound day this preparation touch wood so far.

“It’s all about building him up to another trial and then hopefully back to the races.”

While plans are still being finalised, Larkin hinted that Baraqiel may return to the races sooner than initially anticipated.

“I reckon he was pretty fit. He didn’t have much of a blow, which surprised me,” Larkin said.

“We’ll probably give him one more and just see where he’s at.

“We’ve got a circle around the Bletchingly first up, but he’ll certainly have one more trial.”

The Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) is scheduled for July 26 at Caulfield, serving as the season’s final major sprint feature.