David Thiselton
THE MIKE DE KOCK-TRAINED Barak proved himself a promising stayer when fighting back to win a Pinnacle Stakes event over 2 600m at Turffontein Inside on Saturday under lightweight jockey Jarryd Penny. It was his third win on the trot meaning he is unbeaten since blinkers were donned.
This Master Of My Fate gelding has a deep pedigree which includes Vodacom Durban July winner Power King, Summer Cup winner Malteme, Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 winner Wendywood, Grade 1 winner Exhilaration and others but he is a rangy, galloping type with a big action.
Barak went into the race 8kg under sufferance with former SA Derby winner Hero’s Honour according to official merit ratings.
However, he did only have to carry a featherweight 50kg.
Furthermore, he had impressed as a progressive stayer in his previous start and duly started 15-4 favourite.
The race did not pan out well for him, which adds merit to the win.
Penny decided to drive him up into a handy position from the off and this might have been due to the theory that light weighted horses should be up there over marathon trips to ensure the top-weights are made to carry their welter burdens.
On this occasion being handy early proved to be costly.
The big horse took held of the bit but Penny did manage to have him covered in second place. He maintained his rail position but by the time they had reached the final turn he had been shuffled back into midfield. He then had to go around The Bosbok, who had gone wrong.
Ultimately, he turned for home right near the back of the eight horse field, meaning the early exertions might well have been unnecessary.
He was now going to have to prove himself some horse to find the necessary extra to make up the leeway.
He did so but then came under threat from the other bottom weight in the contest, Gold Griffin, although the latter was carrying 1kg overweight under national champion jockey Warren Kennedy.
Barak responded magnificently to Penny’s urgings and saw off the challenge to win by a quarter of a length.
It is not unusual for South Africans stayers to build up a sequence before being found out when they run in features, but Barak looks to have plenty of scope for further improvement and De Kock must be thinking of races like the WSB Gold Cup already.
Barak is out of the Captain Al mare Bermuda Sloop, whose five wins were from 1500m to 2000m. He was purchased for R360,000 at the National Yearling Sales by Jehan Malherbe’s Form Bloodstock and is owned by De Kock together with Malherbe’s wife Noeline and G Ragunan.
Besides Power King and Malteme, who also won the Grade 2 Gold Circle Derby over 2400m, other stamina horses in his pedigree include Power King’s half-brother Northern Land (Badger Land), who won the Grade 3 Cape Summer Stayers over 2500m, Listed Oaks Trial winner Bize and Sammy Jo, who won the Listed East Cape Oaks.
