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<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cGoing into the Moir I\u2019ve never been so confident,\u201d Corstens told SENTrack and RSN\u2019s Giddy Up.<\/p>\n
\u201cI literally had to slap myself in the face because I\u2019m not like that \u2013 I don\u2019t think I\u2019m a big head.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou try not to come across cocky, but I was going into the Moir and I just had this belief about the horse.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just didn\u2019t think we were gonna be beaten.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite having supreme confidence in his horse for the Moir, Corstens admitted that Baraqiel is even better placed for the Manikato than the Moir.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I asked you at the start of his campaign which race is he a better chance in, would you have said the Manikato?\u201d Hall asked.<\/p>\n
\u201c100%, that\u2019s always been our Grand Final and I still say that today,\u201d Corstens responded.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven though we\u2019ve won the Moir, I still think the Manikato\u2019s our race.<\/p>\n
\u201cGoing in with our eyes wide open on Friday night, but you can\u2019t have the horse any better \u2013 he\u2019s really, really well.\u201d<\/p>\n
When asked about Baraqiel\u2019s plan for the race, Corstens admitted that he doesn\u2019t like giving his star jockeys plans for big races.<\/p>\n
Regular jockey Ben Allen will be riding Baraqiel this Friday and Corstens has given him a license to do whatever he feels will best suit Baraqiel as the race pans out.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou really can\u2019t go into these big races with plans, the last thing I want to do is fill Ben Allen\u2019s head with my ideas,\u201d Corstens said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen those gates open you want him sharp as a tack and if he wants to do something – if he needs to go three wide and that\u2019s where he thinks he\u2019s gonna be best suited – I want him to do that.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want him thinking, \u2018Oh Jesus, Troy wanted me to go back to third.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want that in his head, I just want him to do what he wants to do.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe put the trust in him and we do that with all our major jockeys.\u201d<\/p>\n
The seven-year-old has been handed setback after setback throughout his life, only making his debut last year.<\/p>\n
Baraqiel has a record for being extremely injury prone, so Corstens was asked if he was worried about any potential injuries heading into the Manikato.<\/p>\n
\u201cI need to justify that because he\u2019s not actually unsound,\u201d Corstens exclaimed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe trouble with Baraqiel is that he\u2019s extremely accident prone and he has had injuries there that hasn\u2019t been avoidable.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut there\u2019s been a couple there that weren\u2019t really his fault.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, he\u2019s just one of those horses that if there is a little bit of trouble he will get into it.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut at the moment he\u2019s the soundest we\u2019ve ever had him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just appreciate having such a good horse and I know that the good runs can come to an end at any time, so eyes wide open and just keep going.\u201d<\/p>\n
Troy Corstens is hoping Baraqiel can win the Group 1 Manikato Stakes on Friday.<\/p>\n
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