Multiple Group 1 winner Black Heart Bart will have another solid barrier trial before lining up to defend his crown in the Group 1 $1m Darley Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on May 20.
Black Heart Bart, above, will have another barrier trial before running in The Goodwood at Morphettville. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Black Hart Bart was one of a huge contingent trainer Darren Weir took to Burrumbeet for jump outs on Thursday and the premiership winning trainer was pleased with the six year old’s effort to finish third in his heat.
“He wasn’t there to do a lot but I thought he stretched out pretty well,” Weir told racing.com.
“He is a bigger track sort of horse and we didn’t want to do too much on him. A beautiful surface for him to gallop on and I thought he stretched out well enough.”
“He’ll have another trial before then (The Goodwood), a serious piece of work.”
“It was just a matter of stretching the legs and keeping things ticking over today (Thursday), and I was happy with that, but he’ll need to do a bit of serious work before The Goodwood at some stage.
“I’m not sure where we’ll trial him, but he’ll be having a good hit-out somewhere.”
Rider Brad Rawiller was also pleased with the hit out and is looking forward to Black Heart Bart getting back to the race track.
“He is a horse that loves getting to the races,” Rawiller said.
“He’s ticking along fine. He had a nice blow and felt great, so I was very happy with him.
“He wasn’t here to win the trial or do anything too exhausting, just to enjoy the day out, and he’s done that.”
Black Heart Bart claimed his first Group 1 win in the 2016 Goodwood and has won four more over the last twelve months, the $500,000 Memsie Stakes (1400m) and the $500,000 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield during the 2016 Spring Carnival and followed that up in the 2017 Autumn Carnival with two more wins at Caulfield in the $500,000 Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) and the $500,000 Futurity Stakes (1400m).
Early betting for The Goodwood at Ladbrokes.com.au has Black Heart Bart as the $2.50 favourite to retain his title ahead of Malaguerra at $7, Vega Magic at $9 and Illustrious Lad at $10.
Early market order for The Goodwood at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.50 Black Heart Bart, $7 Malaguerra, $9 Vega Magic, $10 Illustrious Lad, $11 Hellbent, Hey Doc, I Am A Star, Voodoo Lad, $15 Rebel Dane, Sheidel, $17 Bassett, Derryn, Under The Louvre, $21 El Divino, Faatinah, Secret Agenda, Super Cash, $26 Keen Array, $31 or better the rest.
