Barakey new sprint king

| Tue 1 May, 2012

Jay Rooney - The West

Barakey confirmed his status as WA's new star sprinter when he obliterated his rivals in his first feature win in yesterday's $100,000 Northam Toyota Stakes (1100m).

Starting at the rock-bottom odds of $1.10 on tote and $1.12 on course, Barakey was sent straight to the lead by Jason Brown and fully ridden out for the first time to extend his unbeaten streak to eight.

The four-year-old beat Cavallo Pazzo ($14) by a stunning 5 1/2  lengths in 1.02.81sec. - 1.06sec. outside of Vain Raider's 2009 race record. Zester ($31) ran third.

Trainer Jim Taylor, who also won the Listed dash with Vain Raider, will aim Barakey at the $80,000 HG Bolton Sprint (1200m) at Belmont Park on May 12.

But the son of Key Business will likely be sent for a spell after that and saved for a potential Melbourne spring carnival campaign.

The victory equalled the unbeaten streak of eight in WA set by Hay List, also prepared by Taylor.

"It was a nice race coming in here on the minimum," Taylor said. "We planned it a few months ago and everything went right coming into today.

"He led easy as he normally does, Jason clicked him up and he was a lot fitter today than he was first-up so he was able to put a bit of a space on them.

"He really blew and actually got away from me (first-up). It was a very hot day when Vain Raider won. He would never get near this bloke so if he had a similar day, he'd probably break it (race record).

"He'll probably just go to the Bolton. There is a weight-for-age race (Roma Cup) after there but if you win at weight-for-age and there are high-rated horses in there, you can go up to their ratings.

"If we were to go away, I'd like to keep him around 100 and get him in on the minimum in good sprints."

Taylor said Barakey was a lot more switched on than his debut campaign when last in work.

"He was still a bit of a big baby last time but when you put the blinkers on he knows it's race day," Taylor said.

Trainer Ted Martinovich was pleased with Cavallo Pazzo's return when he ran on from fifth on the turn.

"It was good to pick-up $20,000 for second," Martinovich said. "I thought he could run second but didn't think he could beat Barakey. He'll probably go on to the Bolton next and meet some of them better at the weights."