Good luck to them in the Manikato.

Baraqiel, the new sprint king of The Valley, roared to victory in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) to remain undefeated in four starts at the track.

Now, the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) on AFL grand final eve, the third last meeting at the track before its redevelopment after the Cox Plate, has gone from Baraqiel’s original target this spring to an audition for the Group 1 The Everest (1200m) next month in Sydney.

Baraqiel has defied repeat injuries, unrelated setbacks in all four legs remarkably, to join the Group 1 club as a seven-year-old veteran of only 12 starts.

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Despite the myriad issues past, trainers Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin kept the faith in Baraqiel, along with patient owners in the Bennett Racing syndicate.

“It’s very special,” an emotional Troy Corstens said.

“I think about it every day (injury history) with him, he’s so fragile. You never know when it’s coming.

“You know it’s going to come and you hope you can hold him together as long as we can. He loves it here.”

Baraqiel burst between mares Alabama Lass and Arabian Summer to get the result in a driving finish.

Queensland raider Golden Boom rounded out the top four.

Early leaders Midwest and Esha faded out of contention approaching and around the home bend.

Esha, one of only two three-year-old fillies in the field, pulled up lame in the left hind leg.

Unplaced Rothfire, Skybird and Oak Hill were among hard luck runners held up at crucial stages.

The trio could rebound sharply in the Manikato on September 26 at The Valley.

Larkin echoed Corstens’ emotion.

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“So much hard work goes into it,” Larkin, who trains in partnership with Leon and Troy Corstens said.

“The whole team at home, we’re pretty much patching him up every day at home.

“You get to this point and it’s quite emotional.”

Baraqiel trucked into contention ominously, brushed Rothfire around the bend, but needed an out in the straight.

“I was very nervous at the top of the straight,” Larkin said.

“I thought we were going to go to the line untested. His turn of foot is just so brilliant.

“He’s such a good horse and what he can do when he’s got clear air, is unbelievable.”

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Jockey Ben Allen has ridden Baraqiel in all 12 starts – from debut to Group 1 glory.

“It’s unbelievable to get it for these owners and the Malua Racing team,” Allen said.

“What a story, what a horse … the amount of setbacks and how patient and persistent they’ve had to be with him, it’s unbelievable.”

Allen appreciated his third Group 1 success.

“I always said the last one was better than the first one and this is better than the last one,” Allen said.

“You never know when they’re going to come. They’re so hard to come by.”

New Zealand raider Alabama Lass, trained by Ken and Bev Kelso, looked the winner at the 100m under champion jockey Craig Williams until Baraqiel surged past.

“She was just a little bit too fresh, too keen and she just really wanted to get it over and done with a little bit quick,” Williams said.

“She was just a little bit vulnerable late. Nothing against the winner, he was really good horse, he’s had the one run, we haven’t had the run under our belt so I’m looking to really bouncing off it.

“Most importantly it gives Ken Kelso an option because she really handled Moonee Valley very well.”

Originally published as Baraqiel shows he is the one to beat in Manikato Stakes after winning Group 1 Moir Stakes at The Valley