The Candy Man doesn’t have much love for stablemates but trackside he’s a sweet customer

His antics at home don’t necessarily enthuse his stablemates but that won’t stop his popularity soaring trackside when he contests the Premier’s Cup at Eagle Farm.

Trainer Barry Baldwin has never had a more popular horse than The Candy Man — nor one with as many quirks.

The grey is chasing a seventh straight win after securing a run in the Premier’s Cup at Eagle Farm.

Fortunately, his racing manners are improving all the time. It’s not necessarily the same story at home.

It’s been well documented how The Candy Man had his jaw screwed back together after a horrible stable accident as a young horse.

Less well known is the fact he’s not necessarily fond of all his barn mates.

“There was one day where he attacked the walls of the stable with his shoulder because he didn’t like the horse beside him,” Baldwin said.

“I don’t mean just bumped up against it, he attacked it.

“The wall was shaking. You had to see it to believe it.

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The Candy Man looms large to take out a race at Doomben last month.

“I’ve never seen that before. We had to change the horse or he would have hurt himself.

“The set-up he likes is an unraced mare called Candy Floss on one side of him and old Motion Granted on the other side.

“He doesn’t like it if you change it around.”

The Candy Man was originally raced by a trio of owners, but one of them, Ray Balkin, was forced to pull out early because of health issues.

The Candy Man proves too powerful at the Gold Coast this month.

The remaining pair, Lucky Pippos and Edgar Allen, spent thousands of dollars having him operated on and then waited patiently for him to be well enough to race again.

Allen is based in Gladstone and is having the ride of his life watching from afar as The Candy Man continues his winning streak.

Baldwin concedes the grey has to “get a step ladder” to make the class rise on Saturday, but feels he will make it — even if it’s not on Saturday.

“He’s gone from maiden to one run off Open company all in one fell swoop, which is great,’’ Baldwin said.