Trainer Darren Weir’s stable flagbearer Black Heart Bart in well-tuned up for his defence of the Group 1 $1m Darley Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Black Heart Bart, above, is in fine tune to make it back to back wins in The Goodwood at Morphettville. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Black Heart Bart will be having his first run back since he wrapped up a Group 1 winning double during the 2017 Melbourne Autumn Carnival with his victory in the Group 1 $500,000 italktravel Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 25.
Weir’s man in charge of his Warrnambool stable, Jarrod McLean, said that Black Heart Bart was in first class order and will have one more solid hit out on Tuesday to top him off for the Goodwood.
“He’s terrific,” Jarrod McLean said.
“I think Weiry has timed his run to perfection. He’ll rip up on Tuesday morning at Warrnambool and be spot on to go back-to-back.”
“Obviously he’s had the freshen-up since his couple of Group One wins at Caulfield.
“He trialled on Monday at Ballarat and then he galloped really well at Warrnambool on Friday morning.
“Brad Rawiller galloped him and I probably haven’t seen him as happy with him after getting off the horse.”
The 2016 Goodwood was the first of Black Heart Bart’s five Group 1 wins in the last twelve months and he is the $3 favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au to make it back to back wins in feature Group 1 sprint of the 2017 Adelaide Festival Of Racing.
Following his Goodwood win, Black Heart Bart went on to win the Group 1 $500,000 Memsie Stakes (1400m) and the Group 1 $500,000 Underwood Stakes (1800m) both at Caulfield during the 2016 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
The Blackfriars six year old then continued his Group 1 winning form during the 2017 Melbourne Autumn Carnival with wins in the $500,000 Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) and in the Futurity Stakes, both at Caulfield again.
“He’s a sound horse and he eats everything you put in front of him,” McLean said.
“The more you feed him, the more you work him and that’s why he’s a good horse because he just comes up every time.
“He’s certainly the best horse I’ve ever dealt with.”
The Weir stable is performing in rare winning form and after winning fourteen races over the three day Warrnambool Cup Carnival on May 2, 3 and 4, took out the Group 1 $600,000 South Australian Derby (2500m) with Volatile Mix at Morphettville last Sarurday.
Early market order for The Goodwood at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3 Black Heart Bart, $7 Vega Magic, $8 Malaguerra, $13 Hey Doc, Secret Agenda, $15 Illustrious Lad, $17 First Among Equals, Kaepernick, Zebulon, $21 Lucky Liberty, Viddora, $26 Bassett, Faatinah, Fuhryk, Malibu Style, Missrock, Rageese, Santa Ana Lane, Super Cash, Sweet Sherry, $34 or better the rest.
