Western Australian speed machine Barakey will have one more run under the care of Perth trainer Jim Taylor in the Group 1 $500,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on February 15.
Barakey had to undergo knee surgery after finishing 11th to Shamexpress, above, in the Newmarket Handicap. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.
Taylor has volunteered to hand over the training of Barakey to a Melbourne trainer after the Lightning to continue his racing in the eastern states.
“It was my decision,” Taylor told Racing Victoria’s Racing News.
“The owners left it up to me but I haven’t spoken to anyone yet.
“Nothing has been confirmed so I don’t want to mention any potential names at the moment.”
Taylor prepared the six year old for wins from his first eleven starts which culminated with a victory in the last year’s Group 1 $500,000 Crown Perth-Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot twelve months ago.
But Barakey’s winning streak came to an end with a horrific Melbourne Autumn Carnival campaign which saw the speedster limp home to Perth for knee surgery following his eleventh of thirteen behind Shamexpress in the Group 1 $1m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 9.
Two weeks earlier Barakey was sent to the barriers as the favourite for the Group 1 $400,000 Sportingbet Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield but had to be withdrawn when he played up in the starting stalls.
Taylor then nursed the six year old back to health and prepared him for a first up win in the Group 3 $125,000 Sea Corp Starlight Prince Of Wales Stakes (1200m) at Ascot in Perth on October 26 before attempting to win back to back Winterbottom Stakes.
Barakey then finished an uncharacteristic ninth to Buffering in the Winterbottom Stakes after racing on the pace but was later found to be suffering from a virus.
Taylor has reported that all is now fine and has mapped out a plan for a return trip to Melbourne to run in the Black Caviar Lightning.
“He’s alright now but he pulled up with a virus after the Winterbottom,” Taylor said.
“He had a high temperature for five days but he’s back to normal now.
“The horse that ran third, Watermans Bay, it has never got close to Barakey in its life. He just wasn’t at his best.”
“He was at his best first up. He raced hard into the wind and he just got tired over 1200 metres first up but if it had of been 1000m that day he would have won by about five lengths.
“He’s in the paddock now and starts work again next Monday. That will give him three weeks off after the Winterbottom. He’ll then fly over to Melbourne during the week of the race.”
