The in-form Darren Weir stable will shoot for two Group 1 Adelaide wins in as many weeks at Morphettville Racecourse this Saturday when Black Heart Bart jumps favourite in The Goodwood 2016.
Black Heart Bart is early favourite to take out Saturday’s 2016 The Goodwood in Adelaide for in-form Victorian horseman Darren Weir. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Last weekend at the track Weir won his first SA Derby with the now 2016 Queensland Derby-bound Howard Be Thy Name, and seven days on he returns with a livewire chance in the $500,000 Group 1 Darley Goodwood (1200m).
Currently there are 30 entries vying for a spot in the capacity 20-starter The Goodwood field, released on Tuesday morning, including three for Weir who won the race three years ago with Platelet (2013).
Sitting top of the pre-field The Goodwood odds at Ladbrokes.com.au paying $3.80 for the win is former Perth-trained Black Heart Bart who comes off a string of nice runs dating back to December.
Last Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival Black Heart Bart ran a brave fourth to Flamberge (2015) in The Goodwood beaten 1.7 lengths when still prepared in WA by Vaughn Sigley.
His last run for Sigley was a second to subsequent Perth Cup winner Delicacy in the Group 2 C.B. Cox Stakes (2100m) on December 19 at Ascot before his transfer to Melbourne Cup winning horseman Weir in Wangoom.
On debut for Weir Black Heart Bart caught the eye instantly when runner-up to upset winner The Quarterback in Flemington’s Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) before winning the Group 3 Victoria Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield in late March.
He earned top spot in The Goodwood betting meanwhile with a nice last start second, defeated just a neck by English in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) in Sydney on April 16.
Weir’s other The Goodwood entries this season are Snitzel colt Sooboog coming off a second in the Group 2 Euclase Stakes (1200m) at the track / distance on May 7, and four-year-old Stratum Star who finished last (13th) in last Saturday’s Group 1 BTC Cup (1200m) and is a likely non-acceptor.
Black Heart Bart, who has Brad Rawiller aboard on Saturday, pays $3.80 to win on Saturday while Sooboog is at a current quote of $17 and Stratum Star $26.
There are three other hopes under $10 in the futures The Goodwood odds including $6 second elect Supido for Cranbourne’s Michael Kent.
The flying Sebring stallion has won six of his eight starts to date and hasn’t been beaten since his sixth to Eloping in the 2014 Blue Sapphire.
His last start produced a win as the odds-on favourite over Admiral in a 1000m handicap down the Flemington straight in early May, but he needs to handle a much tougher class of rivals to keep the winning streak going in the Adelaide Group 1.
Following on $9 each are Robbie Griffiths’ Newmarket Handicap winner The Quarterback whose last start produced a third to Miss Promiscuity in the VOBIS Gold Sprint at Caulfield in mid-April and the Robert Smerdon-trained Under The Louvre who was third in last season’s The Goodwood.
Other notable hopes include last start Listed City Of Adelaide Stakes (1400m) winner Zebulon ($11), Barry Campbell’s Tasmanian raider Admiral ($13) and the reigning The Goodwood winner Flamberge now prepared by Matthew Ellerton & Simon Zahra.
Back your early The Goodwood 2016 betting selections by following the links below, futures prices provided by our No. 1 recommended bookie Ladbrokes.com.au!
