3 minute read

Trainer Rowan Hamer admits his eight-year-old Barjeel is no champion, but the gelding gives the impression he has more to give as he took his career win tally closer to double figures.

In Brief

• Barjeel edges closer to 10 career wins with emphatic victory.
• Gelding gives the impression he has more to give.
• Hamer to step Barjeel up to open company to "test the water".

Barjeel notched his eighth career win in Devonport last Sunday with a resounding victory in a benchmark 66 handicap over 1350 metres.

It was the gelding's second outing this time in, and the win made up for a luckless third at his previous start two weeks earlier.

"Barjeel has done a terrific job since he arrived in the state from Victoria four years ago," Hamer said.

"I've only had him for two preps and in that time, he has been a good money spinner for his owners Bruce and Kathryn Goss who are good family friends."

Barjeel was superbly ridden by Ismail Toker who had the son of Foxwedge well-placed one-out and one-back and when taken three-wide to challenge on the turn he quickly put the result beyond doubt.

Barjeel began his career in South Australia and then Victoria with the David Hayes and Tom Dabernig stable, for whom he had two wins and three minor placings before finding his way to Marion Dalco's stable in Tasmania.

Dalco did a great job winning three races with the gelding as well as multiple minor placings and the horse only made his way to Hamer's yard when Dalco decided to only concentrate on horses she owned.

"I'm not sure how far we can go with this horse, but I'll give him a crack at an open handicap on Sunday week and go from there."

Barjeel has had 53 starts for eight wins and 14 minor placings and close to $150,000 in stakes.