Caulfield specialist Black Heart Bart is one of four Darren Weir trained runners lining up in the Group 1 $500,000 italktravel Futurity Stakes (1400m) on Saturday.

Black Heart Bart, above, is one of four Darren Weir trained runners in the Futurity Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Black Heart Bart has raced at Caulfield on five occasions for four wins, three of which were over the same course and distance as the weight for age Futurity Stakes.

The former West Australian trained six year old is coming off a last start win in the Group 1 $500,000 Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes over the Caulfield 1400m on February 11 and will be the one to be beat again from barrier six with Brad Rawiller remaining in the saddle.

“He’s probably the pick of my team. He’s trained on really well since his Orr Stakes win,” Weir told the Herald Sun.

“He could have a couple of runs in Sydney but he’s likely to have done enough for this time round.”

Lucky Hussler was well beaten last start when tenth to Black Heart Bart in the Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes but Weir is hoping the seven year old will show plenty of improvement in the Futurity Stakes from barrier four with Damian Lane in the saddle again.

“I’d expect improvement from him. He was too close in the run last start,” Weir said.

Palentino just missed the place when fourth in the Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes and Weir would be giving him a better chance if the race was over his preferred distance of 1600m.

Mark Zahra rides Palentino who has drawn barrier seven while Craig Williams takes the mount on Japanese import Tosen Stardom (barrier 2) who is having his first run for the 2017 Melbourne Autumn Carnival.

The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman trained Turn Me Loose chased home Black Heart Bart in the Ladbrokes C. F. Orr Stakes and has drawn barrier four with Kerrin McEvoy to ride in the Futurity Stakes while third placegetter Ecuador from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable has drawn the pole position with Adam Hyeronimus retaining the ride.

The Lindsay Park Team of David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig will saddle up Fast ‘N’ Rocking (Regan Bayliss, barrier 8) and He’s Our Rokkii (Dwayne Dun, barrier 3) while Team Snowden have the only three year old in the race, Attention, who has drawn the outside barrier in the nine horse field.

Blake Shinn takes over in the Futurity Stakes from McEvoy who was aboard the Startum colt when second to Oak Door in the Group 2 $200,000 Hyland Race Colours Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 11.