Veteran relives heyday in Mungrup Sprint

Baraki Beats turned back the clock with an all-the-way victory in the $100,000 Mungrup Stud Sprint at Albany on Sunday.

The veteran gelding responded to a great ride by Natasha Faithful to hold all challenges at bay for a one-length victory over Saracino (NZ) and My Greek Boy.  It was the first time he had saluted the judge since December 2018 at Geraldton.

Baraki Beats (8g So Secret – Dance Hi by Key Dancer) is trained and part-owned by Jo-Anne Leeson with Jeff Martin.  The Great Southern’s feature sprint of the season improved his record to 10 wins in 68 starts for prizemoney of $400,225.

Originally trained by Jim Taylor for owner-breeders Aristos Mihalopoulos & Terry Zeppos, he was a more than capable galloper in his heyday although not in the same league as older half-brother Barakey (Key Business) who won a Group 1 in the 2012 Winterbottom Stakes.

He’s also a half-brother to G3 Champion Fillies winner Hi On Love (Love a Dane) and LR Belmont Oaks winner Ifestio (Key Business) who foaled 2014 Winterbottom Stakes winner Magnifisio (Magnus).

Another half-relation Real Hi (Real Jester) was unraced but foaled LR Perth Stakes winner Wacked Out (So Secret).  Rangeview Stud has a Vancouver – Real Hi filly catalogued as Lot 90 at next month’s Perth Magic Millions.

So Secret (Danetime) stands at Rangeview and he had an 8yo winner at Ascot on Saturday courtesy of Transgressor in the Crown Sports Bar Hcp (1000m).  They are from his second crop which also includes G2 Karrakatta Plate winner Hobart Jones.

Fellow Rangeview sire Galah kicked off the Mungrup Stud Sprint meeting with winning debutant Artie’s Comet.  Trained by Graham Yuill, he nailed short-priced stablemate Rubychino (Maschino) by head in the in the TABtouch Maiden (1240m).

SO SECRET