Black Heart Bart to Take Place in Darley Kingsford-Smith Cup Field

Trainer Darren Weir has confirmed that stable star Black Heart Bart will back up in Saturday’s Group 1 Darley Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm in Brisbane.

Black Heart Bart is set to contest Saturday's Group 1 Darley Kingsford-Smith Cup at Eagle Farm. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos

Black Heart Bart is set to contest Saturday’s Group 1 Darley Kingsford-Smith Cup at Eagle Farm. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos

A multiple winner at the highest level since transferring to the care of Victoria’s leading trainer, Black Heart Bart returned from a freshen-up to finish seventh in the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) in South Australia last weekend, having landed too close to the early pace.

Weir told Racing Victoria that the Blackfriars gelding has pulled up well from his run in The Goodwood and he is confident that he is capable of atoning when he takes his place in the Darley Kingsford-Smith Cup field.

“He just rode him too close,” Weir said of jockey Brad Rawiller.

“He didn’t ride him really badly but for this horse if you ride him too close, he can’t sprint at the end and that’s what happened.

“He seems to have come through the run in really good order and it (backing up within a week) won’t worry him. He’s the type of horse that will handle that.

“It’s a race that should suit him as its weight-for-age and I’m sure he’ll get a better ride this week.”

A former Perth galloper, Black Heart Bart has been a strong and consistent performer throughout his entire racing career to date, but has undoubtedly taken a big step up in class and ability since transferring to Weir prior to the 2016 autumn.

Given little hope of success in last year’s edition of the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m), Black Heart Bart flew home to finish a close second behind The Quarterback, before returning to winning form in the Group 3 Victoria Handicap (1400m).

Running second in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) before posting his first Group 1 win in The Goodwood, the gelding out of Sister Theresa returned to the paddock after finishing a close second in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) in Brisbane.

Continuing to impress through a strong and consistent Spring Carnival campaign, Black Heart Bart added wins in both the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) and Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) to his record most notably.

Resuming this year for second in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m), the talented gelding won each of the Group 1 Ladbrokes CF Orr Stakes (1400m) and Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) in autumn; his only other starts prior to The Goodwood.

The 2017 Darley Kingsford-Smith Cup field and barrier draw is due to be completed and released by midday, Wednesday.

Black Heart Bart is currently available at early Darley Kingsford-Smith Cup odds of $5.50 at Ladbrokes.com.au.

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Jared Timms

Jared graduated with a journalism degree in 2011. He is a keen sports fan and has enjoyed many accolades for his lively writing style and comprehensive coverage of major sporting events and horse racing. Today, you can find Jared cheering on his beloved Manchester City with a beer in hand.