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Corstens: Baraqiel in elite shape ahead of "Grand Final" Manikato
Connor Scanlon • September 24th, 2025 3:24 pm
Baraqiel is searching for back-to-back Group 1 victories at Moonee Valley this Friday night.
The seven-year-olds first ever Group 1 came in the Moir Stakes (1000m), where he won by 0.46 lengths, and now he is $4.60 (on Sportsbet) to take out the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m).
Reflecting on Baraqiel’s remarkable victory in the Moir, the gelding’s trainer Troy Corstens revealed that he was extremely confident heading into the race.
“Going into the Moir I’ve never been so confident,” Corstens told SENTrack and RSN’s Giddy Up.
“I literally had to slap myself in the face because I’m not like that – I don’t think I’m a big head.
“You try not to come across cocky, but I was going into the Moir and I just had this belief about the horse.
“I just didn’t think we were gonna be beaten.”
Despite having supreme confidence in his horse for the Moir, Corstens admitted that Baraqiel is even better placed for the Manikato than the Moir.
“If I asked you at the start of his campaign which race is he a better chance in, would you have said the Manikato?” Hall asked.
“100%, that’s always been our Grand Final and I still say that today,” Corstens responded.
“Even though we’ve won the Moir, I still think the Manikato’s our race.
“Going in with our eyes wide open on Friday night, but you can’t have the horse any better – he’s really, really well.”
When asked about Baraqiel’s plan for the race, Corstens admitted that he doesn’t like giving his star jockeys plans for big races.
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.
“You really can’t go into these big races with plans, the last thing I want to do is fill Ben Allen’s head with my ideas,” Corstens said.
“When 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’s where he thinks he’s gonna be best suited - I want him to do that.
“I don’t want him thinking, ‘Oh Jesus, Troy wanted me to go back to third.’
“I don’t want that in his head, I just want him to do what he wants to do.
“We put the trust in him and we do that with all our major jockeys.”
The seven-year-old has been handed setback after setback throughout his life, only making his debut last year.
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.
“I need to justify that because he’s not actually unsound,” Corstens exclaimed.
“The trouble with Baraqiel is that he’s extremely accident prone and he has had injuries there that hasn’t been avoidable.
“But there’s been a couple there that weren’t really his fault.
“So, he’s just one of those horses that if there is a little bit of trouble he will get into it.
“But at the moment he’s the soundest we’ve ever had him.
“I 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.”
Troy Corstens is hoping Baraqiel can win the Group 1 Manikato Stakes on Friday.
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