Jockey Brad Rawiller is happy with the midfield barrier draw for Black Heart Bart in the Group 1 $1.5m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Black Heart Bart, above, drew barrier ten in the Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm. Photo by Jenny Barnes.
Rawiller was hoping to draw inside ten but was happy when he ended up with gate ten when the barriers were handed out at Eagle Farm this morning.
“Happy enough with the draw. Inside ten I was hoping. Ten with the way the speed looks, I am very happy with that,” Rawiller said.
With noted front runner Two Blue drawn at barrier two and on pace runner Charmed Harmony drawn out wide at fifteen, Rawiller can see plenty of pace developing in the early stages which will let him slot into a lovely trailing position from gate ten.
“There is a bit of work to be done from now until Saturday as far as working out a speed map and Peter Ellis will help me with that,” Rawiller said.
The Darren Weir trained Black Heart Bart is coming off a last start win in the Group 1 $500,000 Darley Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on May 21 and Rawiller has reported that the five year old has arrived safely in Brisbane from his Victorian base for his Group 1 assignment on Saturday.
“Very happy. He has travelled up this morning and we can’t be happier with how he’s progressed since the Goodwood,” Rawiller said.
“Spoke to Jarrod McLean (Stable foreman) this morning and he said that he couldn’t have had a better trip across. All good.”
Black Heart Bart has held his position as the second favourite at $5.50 for the Stradbroke Handicap at Ladbrokes.com.au behind the Ciaron Maher trained Azkadellia who is at the top of the market order at $4.
Azkadellia fared well in the Stradbroke Handicap barrier drew and will jump from gate five in the eighteen horse field with Damien Oliver back in the saddle.
Oliver rode Azkadellia to victory in the Group 1 $1m The Coolmore Legacy Stakes (Queen Of The Turf Stakes) (1600m) at Randwick on the second day of ‘The Championships’ on April 9 and is replacing Mark Zahra who partnered the mare when second to Music Magnate in the Group 1 $750,000 James Boag’s Premium Doomben 10000 (1350m) at Doomben on May 28.
Market order for the Stradbroke Handicap at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4 Azkadellia, $5.50 Black Heart Bart, $6.50 Counterattack, $8.50 Music Magnate, $9 Malaguerra, $13 Under The Louvre, Kaepernick, $15 Delectation, $21 Takedown, $26 Charlie Boy, Artlee, $31 Hooked, $51 Precious Gem, $61 Sacred Star, Charmed Harmony, $71 Big Money, Two Blue, $151 The Virginian.
