Barakey tunes up for Oakleigh tilt with trial

Perth Turf Talk | Metropolitan Racing | Tue 22 January, 2013

Top sprinter Barakey tuned up for his trip to Melbourne with a comfortable barrier trial win at Belmont on Monday.

Barakey has won all of his 11 starts, including the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot at his last outing on November 24. Barakey's trainer Jim Taylor told Racing Radio the Group IOakleigh Plate on February 23 would be the likely first-up target for the son of Key Business.

Taylor said he had a reserve plan in mind for Barakey in case champion sprinter Black Caviar makes an unlikely appearance in the Oakleigh Plate.

"Probably most likely it will be the Oakleigh (Plate) but you never know what Black Caviar's doing over the next couple of weeks," Taylor said.

"If she is still going well, there is a race the week before.

"I don't think anything is going to beat Black Caviar but she is on her way down. I'll probably be avoiding her if she is going well."

Barakey was one of four Taylor-trained runners in the Belmont trial. The gelding went straight to the front under regular rider Jason Brown before ambling home to win the heat in a time of 1:01.17 for the 1000 metres.

Taylor said Barakey was above his racing weight but he would give him another trial next week to bring him along further for his trip east.

"He'll probably have one next Monday just to bring him on a little bit," Taylor said. "There is still five weeks until his first-up start from last Saturday.

"He's probably a little bit fat at the moment but I have still got a little bit of time to get him spot-on for first-up."

Watch Barakey's trial below.

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