Trainer Darren Weir is declaring Black Heart Bart is back to full fitness as he prepares to line up in the Group 1 $1m James Boag’s Premium Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot in Perth on Saturday.
Brad Rawiller, above, rides Black Heart Bart in the Railway Stakes t Ascot. Photo by Adrienne Bicknell.
Weir had to nurse Black Heart Bart through the Melbourne Spring Carnival because of a niggling hoof injury which resulted in the five times Group 1 winner remaining winless from his four Spring outings.
“His feet were troubling him so it was a balancing act but we’ve got him right and he doesn’t have a problem,” Weir told the Herald Sun.
“They’re not machines. I don’t know whether he’s got another Group 1 in him. He’s been such a good horse and he doesn’t have to do anything more.”
Weir eased up on Black Heart Bart after finishing fifth to Bonneval in the Group 1 $750,000 Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on October 1 and sent him to Warrnambool for ten days of swimming.
The seven year old then spent some time at Weir’s farm at Maldon before being prepared to head to the West for the Perth Summer Racing Carnival.
Prior to his fifth in the Underwood Stakes, Black Heart Bart was placed on three occasions with his best effort being a second to Vega Magic in the Group 1 $1m New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 2 followed by a third to stablemate Humidor in the Group 1 $750,000 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 16.
Regular rider Brad Rawiller takes the mount again on Black Heart Bart who drew barrier eight in the original draw but could move in two places if all the emergencies fail to gain a start when the final sixteen horse field is confirmed on Saturday morning.
Weir will also saddle up Ulmann in the Railway Stakes with Damian Lane to ride from barrier five.
Ulmann was a winner two starts back in the Group 3 $150,000 Ladbrokes Moonga Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on October 21 followed by a fourth in the Group 3 $200,000 TCL TV Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Kennedy Oaks Day during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Betting at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Railway Stakes has Black Heart Bart sharing the second line at $6.50 with the local star Scales Of Justice behind the Chris Waller trained Tom Melbourne who sits at the top of the market order at $6 while Ulmann is listed as a $12 chance.