 Barkada will not be heading to the Gold Coast to
contest the Three-Year-Old Classic despite an impressive win at Caulfield this afternoon.Leading Caulfield trainer Lee Freedman said Barakada wiull remain in
Melbourne and head toward the Zeditave Stakes in a fortnight, and would skip the million
dollar event on the same day in Queensland.
After "pinging" out of the gates the three-year-old
son of Spectrum dictated the pace and was able to hold out the final challenge of the
Hawkes trained Sea Rover.
Barkada, who is owned by the Gooree Pastoral Company, has now
won four of his eight starts. The colt is one of few gallopers who has made a successful
return to the track after a throat operation.
"He had his operation to fix his wind problem following
his run in the Magic Million in Adelaide," trainer Lee Freedman said.
 It was another winner for the talented heavyweight
rider Patrick Payne who recently returned after a trackwork tumble on his Rockbank
property which left him unconscious.
After the race Freedman told reporters that the colt,
although being eligible and in great form, would not be running in Queensland.
"He is a Magic Millions horse, but with a good field
expected up there including Ha Ha, I felt staying down here would be a better
option," Freedman said.
The in form trainer suggested that the colt's next run would
come in the $100,000 Zeditave Stakes (listed) over 1200 metres at Caulfield on January 12.
"He has a real will to win, which is a rare yet great
quality," Freedman concluded. |
