BARAKA WINS OAKS TRIAL
8 May 2004
RTE.ie

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Baraka recorded a facile victory in the Oaks Trial at Lingfield today.

Partnered by Jamie Spencer, the filly was making only her second appearance after flopping on her debut as a two-year-old. She stalked the odds-on favourite Bowstring and when her pilot popped the question she quickened impressively. The official winning margin of six lengths didn't adequately reflect the bloodless nature of the victory.

Spencer, who barely had to move a muscle, said: "the ground is very testing and when it is like that, it makes distances more extreme. "She's only had one run before and she's still a bit green. I'm sure she'll improve for the race."

Bowstring made the running at a steady pace until the top of the hill, where Frankie Dettori increased the tempo on the leader. But all the time Baraka was cruising in second place and Spencer only had to let out an inch of rein for the daughter of Danehill to draw effortlessly clear.