Blinkers to aid Baraqiel’s Newmarket bid

Since weights turned metric in 1973, only three horses have carried more than 57.5kg to win the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) which is to be run on Saturday. 

Hay List carried 58.5kg in 2012 while 12 months earlier the unbeaten champion Black Caviar carried 58kg, the same as Shaftesbury Avenue in 1991. 

Redkirk Warrior carried Baraqiel's weight of 57.5kg when successful for the second time in 2018 after winning with 52.5kg the previous year. 

The weight is a burden for Baraqiel but one his trainers Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin say is not insurmountable. 

Baraqiel will wear blinkers for the first time as he looks to add a second Group 1 victory to his record after taking the Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley in the spring. 

Saturday's outing will be Baraqiel's second for the preparation after finishing fourth to Tentyris in the Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on February 14. 

Beaten 1.6 lengths, Baraqiel has a weight swing of 3kg in his favour from that run. 

"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." 

The feeling is the Flemington straight will favour horses coming with a late run on Saturday, but Larkin said he would not swap barrier three. 

He said it would suit Baraqiel with the gelding's tendency to lay-in while also being bottled up for a late flourish was also seen as a plus. 

"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." 

Plans are for Baraqiel to head to the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on March 21 after Saturday with plans fluid after that outing. 

"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."