Jockey Ben Allen strives for Meteorite-Cranbourne Cup double with Baraqiel and Pinstriped

Baraqiel is showing no signs he’s had enough as jockey Ben Allen sets his sights on a feature double in The Meteorite and Cranbourne Cup on Saturday.

Ben Allen riding Baraqiel to an easy win in the McEwen Stakes at The Valley. Picture: Michael Klein

Jockey Ben Allen is confident Baraqiel has more than enough left in the tank to win the inaugural $1m The Meteorite (1200m) on Saturday at Cranbourne.

Baraqiel, a $2.80 favourite with Ladbrokes, placed sixth last start in the Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m) at Flemington.

A “really good gallop” last Monday confirmed Allen’s assessment of Baraqiel, who has been aimed at The Meteorite since a dominant win in the qualifying Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1200m) at The Valley.

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“He’s towards the end of his prep but his gallop Monday showed no signs he’s had enough,” Allen said.

“Whether he leads or sit behind the speed, depends on how quick they go.

“A track like Cranbourne will suit because he rails up quite well and has a good kick around a bend, which you need in a race like that.”

Allen has won six of nine starts on emerging sprint star Baraqiel, trained by Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin.

“I think he’s definitely a Group 1 horse (coming), once you get him back around The Valley when their Group 1 kicks off (next year), I think it will be ideal for him because he seems to fly around there,” Allen said.

“I didn’t put him under pressure until 200m out (in the McEwen), who knows how far he would’ve won by (2¾-length margin) if I went for him earlier.”

A star is born. ⭐️

Baraqiel trots in the McEwen! 😱@MaluaRacing@[e-mail]/bhrtvcWhhv

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 26, 2024

Lightly-raced six-year-old Baraqiel, who only got to the races six months ago after injury wrecked his three and four-year-old seasons, has gone from Sale maiden winner to Group 1 candidate inside nine starts.

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“When I rode him his first start he gave me a really good feel … way he picked up and put them away with ease without me having to ask him to do a great deal. I knew that day he was a good horse,” Allen said.

“He seems to step up every time and still do a few things wrong, run in, run out, shy at stuff, but he’s starting to mature a bit.

“He hasn’t been at Cranbourne before but we’re going to have a few in front of us ideally and it’s only a 200m straight.

“It will be hard to catch him.”

Ben Allen with trainer Enver Jusufovic after winning the Group 1 Memsie Stakes aboard Pinstriped. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Allen could stamp his best and certainly most consistent spring — seven city winners including four stakes successes — with a feature sweep on Saturday, as Group 1 winner Pinstriped is also fancied in the Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m).

Pinstriped, trained by Enver Jusufovic, set an early spring tone for Allen with victory in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m).

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Pinstriped, an $8 chance on Saturday in the Cranbourne Cup, overcame a minor setback mid-campaign to run third in the Group 3 Moonga Stakes and then finished seventh in the Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) last start.

“He didn’t have the best run and he was up against the best milers,” Allen said.

“Good to be able to get both (The Meteorite and Cranbourne Cup) … you never know.

“Pinstriped has been a super horse for me and he’s one of my favourite horses, especially for EJ, he has supported me the whole way through my career, so to be able to ride a Group 1 winner for him was unbelievable.”

Originally published as Jockey Ben Allen strives for Meteorite-Cranbourne Cup double with Baraqiel and Pinstriped