Jockey Ryan Plumb says Barraaj can bounce back to win third race on the Gold Coast

JOCKEY Ryan Plumb warns rivals who judge Barraaj by his last start are in for rude shock as he backs the four-year-old to compete for a third win on the Gold Coast today.

Jockey Ryan Plumb (jockey) won the Stuart James Memorial Maiden Handicap (1800m) with Barraaj on Gold Coast on Saturday, January 21, in the horse’s first win and he says he can do it again. Photo:Jessica Hawkins/Trackside Photography.

JOCKEY Ryan Plumb warns rivals who judge Barraaj by his last start are in for rude shock as he backs the four-year-old to compete for a third win on the Gold Coast today.

Barraaj, trained by Plumb’s sister Angela, broke through to win two straight 1800m races on the Gold Coast within seven days in January but finished nearly 28 lengths behind winner Spirit of Kiowa at the same distance when he returned a month later.

But Plumb said a combination of a firm track, inside barrier (2) and a foot laceration were behind Barraaj’s last-place finish as the gelding prepares to race on an expected soft track, which he prefers.

“The horse is going very well,” Plumb said.

“His last run was quite ordinary but he had a month between runs and it was on a firm track. He travelled really well but when he got among them ... like at the half-mile one horse came around him and he just seemed to spit the bit out and stop a little bit quick.

“I thought it was either the firm track or he didn’t like racing in tight room in among them. He has drawn out a little bit and he will just roll forward and stay out of trouble.

“He did end up having a small laceration around the bottom of his foot after his last run. It wasn’t severe but he is a bit of a soft horse anyway so I think if he got a small cut or raced in a tight spot I think he just doesn’t appreciate it.

“He likes everything to go his way and then he will put in a really good performance.

“His previous two wins he had really easy runs and didn’t have any pressure outside him or didn’t have any horses boxing him in and he won convincingly both times.”

Barraaj will be one of five rides Plumb (pictured) has today with the talented hoop to also take to the saddle on Capital Gain, Perdu, True Stepper and Rolling Roman.

Plumb said Capital Gain and Rolling Roman were among his best chances and backed True Stepper to improve from his last start at Ballina in mid-February.

“Capital Gain is a really nice horse,” Plumb said.

“It ran really well on debut and made up a lot of ground after being slow out of the barriers. I galloped it during the week at Doomben and it worked very nice.

“My other good ride is Rolling Roman. It won last start and meets the same sort of field again.

“It’s just drawn a little bit awkward but it will roll forward and will be out of trouble anyway.”