Barrengarry suffered a minor false dawn a couple of Saturdays earlier, however, the gelding is primed for Group company this Saturday amid the Sydney Autumn Carnival.
The three-year-old looks to extend his rise through the $250,000 Frank Packer Plate (2000m) conducted at Randwick.
Positioned as a Group 3 spectacle two weeks beyond the Carbine Club Stakes—a race Barrengarry nominated for yet scratched amid a trivial concern—Kembla Grange handler Joe Ible anticipates the grand occasion keenly.
“He was in to run in the Carbine a week ago but he just wasn’t 100 percent so we scratched him,” the Kembla Grange trainer said.
“He looks like he’s bounced back nicely. He had a good trial on Friday at Canterbury.
“Horses like this are what we get out of bed every day and do it for. To have a horse like him walk in the stable, it certainly invigorates you and gets you going.”
In pursuit of a hat-trick, he’ll confront foes like Tulloch Stakes silver medallist Eureka Rebel, Providence off a Moonee Valley Vase second, alongside Matias and Olympian who nabbed third and fourth in the Carbine Club Stakes over the weekend.
This trajectory marks an improbable ascent for Ghaiyyath’s progeny, opening with a fourth over 1200m in Nowra’s maiden event last November.
His home track effort on February 17 yielded third across 1400m, succeeded by a commanding 1600m maiden breakthrough at Newcastle March 6, then a gritty 1500m Midway score against elders at Rosehill March 21.
Last Friday brought his only recent public trial over 1100m, placing fifth in a field of seven, roughly four lengths behind the winner.
Ible remains thrilled yet surprised by Barrengarry’s pace of growth, pondering bolder targets this campaign pending a solid Saturday effort.
“He’s always shown us something, but I wouldn’t have thought he’d be getting there as quickly as he has,” Ible said.
“The way he’s progressed this preparation, he still looks a bit backward and his mannerisms are a bit immature, so out of this preparation you start to think about what the future could be.
“If he was to go out and perform as we hope (this weekend) there’s a chance we’ll end up in Brisbane.”
Envisioned there is the $1 million Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) slated for Eagle Farm on May 30.
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