Baraqiel primed for William Reid Stakes following venue change to Caulfield
While the move of the William Reid Stakes to Caulfield may not be perfect for Baraqiel, the Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin-trained speedster is aimed squarely at the event.
Customarily held at Moonee Valley, the William Reid Stakes (1200m) concludes the Melbourne Group 1 program for the year.
Moonee Valley's closure persists until the 2027 Cox Plate owing to rebuild efforts, meaning Caulfield will stage this season's version of the elite sprint.
At Moonee Valley, Baraqiel has excelled, claiming the Group 1 Moir Stakes win and a second placing in last spring's Manikato Stakes, and he also succeeded at Caulfield once over Saturday's distance back in June 2024.
Saturday's challenge comes after his recent fourth to Tentyris in the Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on February 14.
A spot in the March 7 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) was planned for him, but he was pulled out on the eve of the race after blood tests raised alarms.
"He literally had a 24-hour virus," co-trainer Troy Corstens said.
"He left a little bit of feed, which is very unlike him, so we knew straight away something wasn't right.
"So, you check all extremities.
"Was there a bird in his feed? - No. Was there anything else wrong? No. Did he have water? Yes, but then his temperature was just on the edge.
"So, we took a blood, and it showed it wasn't right. His markers were up a little bit which told us he wasn't spot on.
"He was a tiny bit dull in the eye, which one of the staff picked up on straight away, and in the end, we couldn't run him.
"We don't take chances, especially going into a Group 1 like that, you need to be spot on.
"If they're not, you can run them and then flatten them and then it's preparation over."
Corstens, Larkin and team have struck hot form lately, with two victories at Caulfield last Saturday building on three wins at the venue on February 21.
The stable can breathe easy as Baraqiel's campaign presses on.
The horse proved his well-being by winning a trial gallop at Flemington last Friday.
"He trialled last week and we were really pleased with it. He seems great," Corstens said.
Discover the latest racing betting markets ahead of the William Reid Stakes action.
More Racing News
New York Lustre's racing days numbered before stud duties
Trainer Enver Jusufovic has indicated that New York Lustre's racing career is nearing its conclusion, with only a handful of starts remaining before she transitions to the breeding paddocks.Her next engagement is set for Saturday in the Brian Beattie Handicap, a 1100-metre race at Flemington.The mare is then scheduled to...
Four-pronged attack from Bjorn Baker for Civic Stakes
Trainer Bjorn Baker, though absent from Royal Randwick this Saturday, is set to deploy a strong contingent for the Listed Civic Stakes, a 1400-metre feature race.Baker has been occupied with stable star sprinter Overpass at Royal Ascot, where the horse ran a valiant third in the Group 1 King Charles...
Silver Wedding targets Stakes win at Ipswich races
Racing and travel have combined to bring out the best in Silver Wedding, who is now aiming to add a Stakes race victory to her resume.The Ciaron Maher-trained mare, a winner of four from thirteen starts, is set to contest the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic (1200m) at Ipswich this Saturday.Silver...
Mission Central on The Everest Radar After Royal Ascot Group 1 Victory
A stellar performance in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot has put Mission Central firmly in Coolmore's sights for a potential start in The Everest, completing a significant achievement for trainer Aidan O'Brien and jockey Ryan Moore.The Irish sprinter, a 14/1 chance, delivered an outstanding performance...
Shocking 50-1 win for Ten Bob Tony in the Queen Anne Stakes
It has been since 1950 that a horse priced longer than Ten Bob Tony has won the Queen Anne Stakes.The 50-1 outsider stunned competitors in the opening contest of Royal Ascot in 2026, with the five-year-old gelding benefiting from a ten-day back-up, his chestnut coat shining brightly under the brilliant...
Regal Zeus set for Eye Liner Stakes as McArdle eyes Group 1 targets
Mornington-based trainer John McArdle is already charting a course for a Group 1 campaign early in the season, with Queensland playing a key role in his plans.The gelding Regal Zeus is heading to Ipswich for the Listed Eye Liner Stakes (1350m) on Saturday, which is slated as the initial of...
The Western Front seeks more staying honours
The Lindsay Park training operation, managed by Ben, Will, and J D Hayes, is anticipating a fruitful outcome with their in-form stayer at Flemington.The Western Front is slated to compete in a 2500m handicap this Saturday, aiming to build on his consistent recent performances.This galloper, originally from New Zealand, was...
Pride's Poison Chalice eyes Civic Stakes success
Joseph Pride, a trainer known for elevating tried horses, is now guiding the talented gelding Poison Chalice.The six-year-old Savabeel progeny was formerly trained by Paul Preusker in Horsham, with his last run being a tenth-place finish in the Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m).While Poison Chalice has not yet won beyond benchmark...
Caulfield Cup prize money boosted for historic 150th running
A substantial increase in prize money has been announced for the Caulfield Cup, perfectly timed for the historic 150th running of this iconic Australian thoroughbred race.The renowned 2400m handicap event, set to take place on October 17, will now feature a total prize pool of $6 million. A key feature...
De Bergerac's final preparation ahead of Santa Ana Lane Series
With a place already secured in next month's Santa Ana Lane Series Final, De Bergerac will have its final tune-up in this Saturday's qualifier for the Listed event.The Grahame Begg-trained five-year-old, a gelding, is set to contest the $150,000 open handicap over 1100 metres at Flemington.This race represents the last...