Corstens eyes possible return to Dubai with Baraqiel
Three years after The Astrologist was narrowly denied victory in the Al Quoz Sprint, Troy Corstens says plans remain in place to take another star Bennett Racing sprinter, Baraqiel, to Dubai to contest the Group 1 race on Dubai World Cup night.
An Australian presence on the 30th anniversary of the Dubai World Cup next month is still on the cards, with Troy Corstens keeping his options open to travel to the UAE with his Group 1 winner Baraqiel to contest the Al Quoz Sprint.
Corstens took The Astrologist to the meeting in 2023, with the son of Zoustar finishing a narrow second to Danyah in the Al Quoz.
The Flemington-based trainer, who prepares Moir Stakes winner Baraqiel with his father Leon and training partner Will Larkin, will make a call after the seven-year-old’s run in the Newmarket Handicap on March 7.
“We are keen to go if he comes through the Newmarket well,” Corstens told The Straight.
“There’s a couple of things to play out yet, so we will just wait until then to make a decision, but everything is pretty much in place for him to make the trip.”
Baraqiel featured among the entries for the Al Quoz Sprint when they were taken last month, but he is yet to receive an official invite.
The other niggling doubt in Corstens’ mind is the possible presence of Lightning Stakes winner Tentyris in the Dubai feature.
The three-year-old Godolphin colt was super impressive in the Lightning Stakes, where Baraqiel finished fourth, and the door remains open for him to travel to Dubai as well.
A decision on that will also likely be made by Godolphin after Tentyris contests the Newmarket, a race in which he is already a $1.85 favourite.
Should Tentyris dominate the Newmarket and the decision be made by Godolphin and the Sam and Anthony Freedman stable to send him to Dubai, it may dissuade Corstens and his team from travelling Baraqiel.
Two other Corstens horses, Zou Sensation and Marble Nine, were entries for Dubai World Cup night, but the trainer has ruled them out of contention for the trip.
The Astrologist was the last Australian-trained horse to contest the Al Quoz, a 1200-metre turf sprint, while it is 10 years since Buffering won the race, which was then staged over 1000 metres.
The Paul Messara-trained Ortensia won the Al Quoz in 2012, the first year it was run as a Group 1 race.
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