Perth’s winning machine Black Heart Bart is set to continue his undefeated Spring run when he carries the top weight of 58kg in Saturday’s Group 1 $1m James Boag’s Premium-Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot.
Delicacy, above, is one of the main dangers to Black Heart Bart in the Railway Stakes at Ascot. Photo by Jenny Barnes.
The Vaughn Sigley trained Black Heart Bart is the winner of seven of his last nine starts, including three from three this campaign, and has deserved to carry the number one saddlecloth on Saturday.
“I’m not being over confident but I not bothered by the weight,” Sigley told Thoroughbred News.
“To me it just evens the race up a little and gives the others a chance.
“He is going along nicely and won’t be slowing down.”
Sigley said that he is not feeling any pressure in the lead up to the weekend and will be happy to hand over the Railway Stakes favourite to jockey Glenn Smith ten minutes before the race.
“I’m not feeling any pressure or nerves at all,” said Sigley.
“Obviously everyone would like to have a horse in a big race, let alone win it.
“But I’m feeling quite good and whatever will be will be.
“Once I leg the jockey up there is not much more I can do.”
Black Heart Bart kicked off this campaign with a win in the Listed $100,000 Birthday Stakes (1200m) at Belmont on October 3 followed by a win over Railway Stakes rival Wink And A Nod in the Group 3 $150,000 Northerly Stakes (1400m) at Ascot on October 21.
The Blackfriars five year old then went back to Ascot to beat local stars Magnifisio and Delicacy in the Group 2 $250,000 Waroa-Lee Steere Stakes (1400m) on November 7.
While stablemate Magnifisio will head towards the Group 1 $1m Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot, Black Heart Bart will clash again with the Grant Williams trained Delicacy.
Black Heart Bart and Adam Durrant’s Real Love are joint favourites with Ladbrokes.com.au for the Railway Stakes at $4.20 ahead of Delicacy at $4.80 and the Chris Waller trained Good Project and last Saturday’s R.J. Peters Stakes winner Hazzabeel at $8.
