King of the mild west Barakey yet to prove himself on the big stage

BARAKEY is a big chance to win today's Winterbottom Stakes, but he is losing the battle for respect in the east.

Even if Barakey wins this afternoon, he still faces a battle for east coast respect.

IF Barakey wins today's Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m), he will take his career earnings past $1 million and confirm his reputation as King of the West.

But in the fair dinkum department, Barakey will struggle to earn the nationwide respect he deserves until he returns to the east coast and wins a big carnival sprint against the top-line sprinters.

Barakey's trainer Jim Taylor wasn't worried about reputations, and said yesterday his bigger priority was "what prizemoney the horse can earn''.

But you only have to ask respected Perth trainer Fred Kersley, whose former stars Northerly and Marasco didn't receive the proper kudos until they triumphed on the other side of the country.

Northerly (left), gets the better of Viscount and Sunline to win the first of his two Cox Plates in 2001. Picture: Darrin Braybrook

It's a debate that is sure to take place among punters in pubs should Barakey take his career record to 13 wins from 14 starts on Saturday evening.

"I do think the Western Australian horses have to earn their stripes in the east before they're rated,'' Kersley told The Daily Telegraph.

"It's hard for us to go east and beat the best horses on their home track. Equally, they have to come here and beat us on our home track.

Marasco had just one win on the east coast, the Makybe Diva Stakes, but was always competitive at the top level. Picture: Graeme Collopy

"But our horses become accepted if they go over there and win, and continue to win.

"I just think it's an attitude, not necessarily a reality. If you look at horses like Scenic Blast, Placid Ark - he was a horse who flew under the radar - Northerly, horses of that ilk went east and actually proved themselves.

"But there's still an attitude they (Western Australian horses) aren't highly rated by eastern state people unless they've gone there and performed.''

Northerly had won four races in the west, including the Group 1 Railway Stakes, before he ventured east and won the Australian Cup. He continued to return, winning two Cox Plates, a Caulfield Cup and more than $9 million in prizemoney.

Barakey will have to get past dual Group 1 winner Buffering (above) in the Winterbottom Stakes. Picture: Jay Town

Barakey has travelled east just once, crashing to defeat in the Newmarket in the autumn. However, he did pull up lame and later had to have a bone chip removed from his knee.

Trainer Taylor said: "I'm more worried about the prizemoney he can earn. If we can keep winning here I'll be happy.''

Taylor hasn't even given thought to Barakey's next preparation, and simply wants to get through this weekend.

Taylor said he felt under more pressure last year when Barakey won the Winterbottom, and it was rival trainer Rob Heathcote who probably has more to lose.

Moment Of Change is on the fourth line of betting for the Winterbottom Stakes. Picture: Colleen Petch

"Last year Barakey was still unbeaten and we were meeting an easier field,'' Taylor said.

"This year it's stronger and there are three good eastern staters. Buffering is there and there's more pressure on him because he's going for three Group 1 wins in a row. He's also the short-priced favourite while we've never got out to a price like this.''

Buffering, who along with Zoustar is among the top two sprinters in Australia, is the $2.40 favourite with the TAB, while Barakey is the $4 second favourite.