Trainer Jason Warren has confirmed that The Barrister is set to back-up in the 2015 Champagne Stakes at Royal Randwick this weekend.
The Barrister led from start to finish to take out the 2015 Fernhill Handicap at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Photo by: Steve Hart
The Barrister stamped himself as a two-year-old to follow when he scored a narrow win over Eolande in the M.Collins Fibretrack Sires (1500m) at Mornington on March 28 and he made his black-type racing debut with a most impressive front-running win in the Listed Fernhill Handicap (1600m) at Royal Randwick on April 11.
Warren told Racing Ahead that The Barrister had come through the Fernhill Handicap in excellent order and at this stage is on track to make his Group 1 debut in the Champagne Stakes this weekend.
“His win at Mornington was very good and it was the first time that we were able to stretch the horse out to a more suitable distance for him and he was even better over the mile there on Saturday,” Warren said.
“The horse has come through Saturday’s run super, he put on a couple of kilos and he is nice and bright under saddle.
“He probably needed the run last Saturday because he did go into the race a bit fresh and he travelled to Sydney really well.
“I didn’t expect him to lead, but I was very pleased with the way that he let do when he was asked to go.”
The Barrister has recorded his two race wins on rain affected going and Warren admits that the Star Witness colt does not have any trouble getting through a wet surface and he believes that any rain in Sydney leading into the Champagne Stakes will significantly increase the winning chances of the talented juvenile.
“He is as good on wet ground as he is on the dry and I think it probably just brings the opposition back,” Warren said.
“He is adept on wet ground and if they get some wet ground on Saturday and there are some question marks over some of the other horses that are lining up over the mile, he is going to be right in it up to his ears.”
Only nine horses were included in the 2015 Champagne Stakes nominations that were released yesterday and The Barrister is set to take on Odyssey Moon, Takedown, Pasadena Girl, Tarquin, Mine Two, Street Rapper, Rhode Assassin and Reckless Russell in the Group 1 event this weekend.
