THE FORECAST: BELIEVE!

THE FORECAST: BELIEVE!

There’s patience, and then there is absolute steadfast one-eyed unwavering belief.

I reckon the owners of BARAQIEL fit into the latter category when you think about how long they waited to see their horse get to the race track. Bought for $150,000 at the Magic Millions in January of 2020, these owners waited a massive four years and four months just to see their horse make its debut.

Wednesday January 8th 2020 was Baraqiel’s exact date of purchase. Just weeks before the world went to, well, shite.

Four years punters! Patience is no problem for me, I’ll sit and wait for fish to bite for endless hours on end, but four years for a horse that kept getting injured before it even got to barrier trial? Come one now, someone must have whispered something pretty tantalising in the ears of this syndicate for them to stick fat to the dream.

And I bet they’re glad they did. Four starts for as many wins, ticking the metro win box at Caulfield last start. Best known for his role in a viral Bachelor-themed racing love series, Baraqiel’s trainer Troy Corstens will make headlines again if his horse conquers his next challenge at Flemington on Saturday.

https://fb.watch/tosk4F18aZ/

Around the grounds time. Since when is the South Australian Sires Produce run in July? Since now evidently. CRIME OF PASSION (R5 No. 10) is a big price but I’m banking on the form behind a very smart colt to get her through. GREAT MAXIMUS (R7 No. 1) should also be winning if he stays home in preference to a race at Flemington, while the omen bet of the week is surely TRUMPSTA (R6 No. 1) – even though the Donald is no fan of me.

In Sydney Rosehill looks sunny and warm – crazy right – and JEWELLRY (R5 No. 4) is my best there back to her own sex in a winnable race.

At Eagle Farm ZAPHOD (R7 No. 1) made a good impression at its first Australian start at Scone. He leaps to city grade here and only has to beat POUTCHEK to get the job done.

BEST: Flemington R8 No. 6 CADMUS

BEST EACH-WAY: Flemington R5 No. 4 FREAK OF NATURE

BEST ROUGHIE: Morphettville R5 No. 10 CRIME OF PASSION