Former Perth trained galloper Black Heart Bart could be the surprise packet in the Group 1 $1.25m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Trainer Darren Weir will saddle up Black Heart Bart in the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Black Heart Bart was transferred from Perth trainer Vaughn Sigley to Darren Weir’s Victorian stable to be prepared for the Autumn Carnival and the Melbourne Cup winning trainer said that he is uncertain what to expect from the five year old.
Weir will saddle up Black Heart Bart for the first time on race day and is uncertain how the winner of ten races will perform down the Flemington straight first up for the new stable.
“I’m expecting him to run well but I don’t know how his form fits in a race like this,” Weir told the Herald Sun.
Weir has been pleased with Black Heart Bart’s work leading up to his stable debut and has performed well in a couple of jump outs.
“I’m really happy with him,” Weir said.
“He has a good record and he’s run well in a couple of jump-outs.”
Black Heart Bart is the winner of ten of his twenty-six starts, all in Western Australia, and will be having his first start since running second to Delicacy in the Group 2 $250,000 C.B. Cox Stakes (2100m) at Ascot on December 19.
Black Heart Bart has had four tries at Group 1 level with his best results being a fourth to Flamberge in the 2015 Group 1 $500,000 Darley Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville and was also fourth to Good Project in the Group 1 $1m James Boag’s Premium-Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot on November 21.
As well as running at Morphettvile during the Autumn, Sigley ventured north to Brisbane for the Winter Carnival but Black Heart Bart failed to beat a runner home after being caught wide when fifteen to Srikandi in the Group 1 $2m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) at Doomben.
On his return to Perth, Black Heart Bart was quickly back in the winner’s list and racked up a hat trick with victories in the Listed $100,000 Birthday Stakes (1200m) at Belmont on October 3, the Group 3 $150,000 Northerly Stakes (1400m) at Ascot on October 21 and in the Group 2 $250,000 Waroa-Lee Steere Stakes (1400m) at Ascot on November 7.
Damian Lane takes the ride on Black Heart Bart who has been listed as an $18 chance for the Newmarket Handicap at Ladbrokes.com.au.
The Team Hawkes trained Chautauqua heads the market order at $2.40 ahead of the Chris Waller trio of Japonisme at $4, Delectation at $9 and Counterattack at $10.
Newmarket Handicap market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.40 Chautauqua, $4 Japonisme, $9 Delectation, $10 Counterattack, $14 Keen Array, $16 Secret Agenda, $18 The Quarterback, Black Heart Bart, $19 Churchill Dancer, $81 Tiger Tees, $101 Charmed Harmony.
