Barack set to rise in class

Barack will be hurled back into Group company following his honourable effort in defeat at Killarney on Tuesday evening.

The Frank Ennis-trained five-year-old finished second to Wild Wind, to whom he was giving 12lb, in the Listed Vincent O’Brien Ruby Stakes. He is already a Listed winner, at Leopardstown in June, but will now try his hand in the Group Three Concorde Stakes at Tipperary on October 2.

Ennis said: “We were giving the winner lots of weight, so it was a great run. It’s never easy giving that weight away, and he wouldn’t have to do it in a Group Three. I’m now going to take a chance and run him at Tipperary as he deserves to win a race like that.”

The handler added: “He’ll also be nice and fresh, and the extended seven-furlong trip will suit him well.

“He’s only as big as a pony, but his heart is as big as a lion’s.”

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