A notorious barrier rogue has meekly entered the Caulfield starting gates after being brought to heel by a blonde ponytailed barrier attendant’s aura of dominance, sending couch punters around the country into a frenzy.

The headstrong four-year-old entire, who The Pakistan Star has chosen not to name, had previously earned a reputation for some fractious pre-race behaviour, including refusing to be loaded on multiple occasions.

But viewers were effusive in their praise of the barrier attendant’s trademark display of no-nonsense authority, with one smitten punter telling this masthead, “that ponytail bloke is deadset the best in the business… sometimes I reckon I enjoy watching him load them more than the actual race”.

“My mates say I’ve got a bit of a man crush on him, haha,” he added.

More to follow.