Barbaric wins tight Black Opal tussle to add to Snowdens’ Slipper hopes
$900,000 I Am Invincible colt likely to be given his chance in $3.5 million race
Peter and Paul Snowden have strengthened their Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) hand after talented colt Barbaric (I Am Invincible) prevailed in a tight finish in yesterday’s $250,000 Black Opal Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) in Canberra.
Barbaric, who had won a Kensington maiden first-up on February 19, defeated stablemate Bartley (Written Tycoon) by a half head, with race favourite Cellsabeel (Hinchinbrook) a nose back in third.
Cellsabeel was passed fit to race by Racing NSW’s Dr Toby Koenig. She was scratched from Saturday’s Reisling Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) after being found to be lame on Friday.
The drama did not end there for the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained filly, with her jockey Tommy Berry lodging a protest against the winner for interference at the 300-metre mark.
Racing NSW stewards, however, quickly dismissed the objection.
Aftermath (Spirit Of Boom), another colt trained by the Snowdens and owned by the James Harron Bloodstock syndicate, ran well to finish fourth.
Peter Snowden said Barbaric, who won a barrier trial at the first official Sydney session last September before running sixth in the ATC Breeders’ Plate (Gr 3, 1000m), “wants to win”.
“I’ve always thought a fair bit of him. That might get him in the Slipper now and he wouldn’t be without a chance,” Snowden told Sky Racing.
“He wants to win. He showed a bit of grit which you want to see. He’s got a good attitude in his work, he’s got a bit of gate speed. He travelled really well today and looked the winner a long way out. He just needed a bit of room to get out.”
Snowden added: “I feel sorry for Bartley, he’s been a bit stiff, but he’s run the race of his life. (Barbaric) had cover and had the softer run to nail him late. Even the other horse, Aftermath, has run terrifically as well.”
Barbaric was ridden by Kerrin McEvoy who was impressed by the colt’s performance on a “doughy” Canberra circuit.
“There was a bit going on and we were looking to duck and dive for an alley to come home through,” McEvoy told Sky Racing.
“Once he got his nose into a gap he did his best work in the last furlong. The ground is riding a little bit ‘doughy’ but he did a good job. He only just got there but it was a nice workmanlike win, that’s for sure.”
Barbaric could join stablemate, Reisling Stakes winner Dame Giselle (I Am Invincible), and Aim (Star Witness) in Saturday week’s Golden Slipper at Rosehill.
After yesterday’s first prize-money, his earnings sits at $186,500 and he firmed from $51 to $26 to win the premier two-year-old race. Cellsabeel drifted from $11 to $15.
McEvoy believes Saturday’s Todman Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) winner Farnan (Not A Single Doubt) was entitled to be the clear frontrunner for the Golden Slipper but did not dismiss Barbaric’s chances.
“Farnan was pretty impressive (on Saturday), so he’s the horse we all have to beat I think,” he said.
“We will wait and see how it unfolds, but they are a good crop of two-year-olds and good quality amongst them across the board.”
Co-bred by Segenhoe Stud and Baramul Stud, Barbaric (I Am Invincible – Mimi Lebrock by Show A Heart) was consigned by the former at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where the colts syndicate headed by China Horse Club and Newgate Farm went to $900,000 to secure him.
He is one of five winners for Group 2-winning mare Mimi Lebrock whose other offspring include last season’s ATC Gimcrack Stakes (Gr 3, 1000m) runner-up Diddles (Snitzel).
Mimi Lebrock, who also won a Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m), is a half-sister to BRC Grand Prix Stakes (Gr 3, 2200m) winner Heavenly Thought (So You Think) and MVRC Tesio Stakes (Gr 3, 1600m) winner Shoko (Sebring).
Barbaric has a weanling half-sister by Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice), who was born on October 28 last year, and missed to Zoustar (Northern Meteor) in 2019.