Black Heart Bart was unable to justify his resounding support from punters when placing fourth Saturday’s Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) in South Australia, however trainer Vaughn Sigley believes his performance warrants progression to the 2015 Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) on June 6th.
Black Heart Bart finished fourth behind Flamberge (pictured) in Saturday’s Group 1 The Goodwood. Photo: Jenny Barnes
Black Heart Bart was forced to settle towards the rear of the field in The Goodwood, but displayed a keen turn of foot over the race’s dying stages to finish within two lengths of runaway winner Flamberge.
Pleased with the Blackfriars gelding’s overall performance on the weekend, Sigley believes his stable star is more than up to the task posed by Group 1 feature races and is confident the conditions of the 2015 Stradbroke Handicap will play into his strengths.
“That run proves he’s well and truly up to them,” Sigley told The West Australian.
“He wasn’t going to be able to win from there but it was just the way it panned out.
“The horse next to him, Smokin’ Joey, lunched at the barriers a few times before the start and he didn’t time the jump very well.
“He was quite relaxed on Saturday, which probably isn’t quite like him.
“It was a big run. He pulled up goo and we’re going to go to Queensland now.”
Black Heart Bart has been a standout performer for Sigley since first debuting on course competitively in late 2013; posting an impressive seven wins and as many minor through a total of 19 career starts.
Running second to Balmont Girl in the Group 3 Asian Beau Stakes (1400m) on November 1st, Black Heart Bart was unlucky to miss his major summer target; the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) after suffering a minor ailment, but responded well in taking out his next two starts including the Listed WA Stakes (1400m).
Placing second in the Listed RS Crawford Stakes (1000m) on December 20th, the gelding out of Sister Theresa undoubtedly found career-best form to date leading into The Goodwood; posting wins in each of the Listed Summer Scorcher (1000m), Listed Cyril Flower Stakes (1200m), Listed Pinjarra Classic (1300m) and Listed Bunbury Stakes (1400m) in succession.
Black Heart Bart is currently available at 2015 Stradbroke Handicap odds of $13 with Ladbrokes Australia.
