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Baraqiel's co-trainers pushing for Everest spot
Connor Scanlon • September 7th, 2025 8:46 pm
On Saturday Baraqiel won the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) to claim its first ever Group 1 at seven-years-old.
The seven-year-old only debuted last year as well, making the win even more impressive.
Baraqiel’s co-trainer Will Larkin also won his first ever Group 1, thanks to Baraqiel, and he joined RSN’s Correct Weight alongside other co-trainer Troy Cortsens to break down the emotional victory.
“(It’s) Unbelievable. All the hard work and just to get Will’s first (Group 1), especially with a horse like Baraqiel, it’s outstanding,” Cortsens admitted.
When Larkin was asked if he ever thought that Baraqiel would win a Group 1 race, given the gelding’s injuries, Larkin admitted that he always knew the horse was going to be brilliant.
“We always knew he had the talent there,” admitted Larkin.
“It was just getting him throughthese injuries overtime. The owners had to be very patient to get him to the races.
“It probably did get to the stage at some point where it was looking unlikely that he would ever make the racetrack.
“A lot of patience and hard work has gone into it, so it’s very rewarding.
“With what he’s doing now it would’ve been very good to have him for the two-year-old and three-year-old seasons.
“I’m sure he would’ve won (a Group 1) a lot sooner.”
Troy Cortsens also touched on the setbacks which Baraqiel had to endure.
“As a younger horse he actually kicked out in his box, and he put a hole in his hind tendon,” Cortsens revealed.
“So, we had to wait for that to heal – 12 months.
“And he’s done a suspensory before. If he can hurt himself, he will.
“I think it really is because he tries so hard.
“Thank Christ we’ve got him nice and sound at the moment.”
The Bennett Racing syndication, who own Baraqiel, had to be very patient and wait until the gelding was five-years-old to debut.
Cortsens admitted that he pushed the ownership group to not give up hope on the injury-riddled Baraqiel.
“They’ve been super patient. No doubt there has been times and stages where they thought it probably wasn’t all worth it,” Cortsens admitted.
“We had the courage and faith to keep going with him – we knew what was under the bonnet – that’s why we pushed it so hard to keep him going.
Despite Baraqiel remarkably winning a Group 1, Larkin admitted the Group 1 winner will only improve from here.
“He’s definitely got fitness improvement to come, he’s pretty race smart now,” Larkin said.
“He’s just got that will to win.
“Coming out of that run, he’ll step up to 1200m, we’re really looking forward to that.
Corstens echoed that testament, hoping they can push Baraqiel to the $20 million Everest (1200m).
“Hopefully we can get a slot in The Everest, that would be really nice,” Cortsens said.
“There might be some action happening this week, I haven’t heard anything yet, but hopefully it comes through.
“Definitely the Manikato (Stakes), we’ve had our eye on the prize for a long time.
“I think the 1200m, if anything, is gonna be better for him.”
Ben Allen who jockeys Baraqiel was also heaped with praise by Cortsens.
“(The ride) was a belter wasn’t it,” Cortsens exclaimed.
“He deserves everything he gets Benny, he’s been with us a long time, he’s just a great guy.
“It’s fantastic when he races with Baraqiel, it’s the first (Group 1) of many to come.”
