Baraqiel has capped a remarkable comeback, surging through a narrow gap late to win the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley.

The injury-plagued sprinter, trained by Leon and Troy Corstens with Will Larkin, flashed home under Ben Allen to defeat Alabama Lass ($6.50) by a long neck, with Arabian Summer ($16) close behind in third.

Baraqiel didn’t debut until age five after a tendon injury, but quickly made up for lost time, winning his first four starts. More setbacks followed, including another tendon issue after last year’s Meteorite and a Racing Victoria vet scratching in July. A first-up win in the Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m) set the stage for Saturday’s triumph.

Troy Corstens described the victory as his “biggest achievement”, while Larkin admitted the stable’s daily battle to keep the gelding sound had been “quite emotional”.

Allen, who celebrated his third Group 1 success, said: “I was lucky I had the right horse. He’s just got that dog in him.”