Star galloper Black Heart Bart could return to racing in the Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield Racecourse on August 19th, rather than the previously underlined Group 1 Memsie Stakes a fortnight later.
Black Heart Bart may resume in the Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes on August 19th. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos
A five-time Group 1 winner, Black Heart Bart has not been seen at the races since failing to fire and fifth in the Group 1 Darley Kingsford-Smith (1300m) at Eagle Farm on May 27th, but has reportedly taken plenty of benefit from his time in the paddock and is a picture of health.
Trainer Darren Weir told Racing Victoria that the Blackfriars gelding will trial before he makes a decision on a Spring Carnival launch-pad, but underlined the PB Lawrence as a nice tune-up race prior to his defence of the Memsie Stakes.
“He’s come back really well but he hasn’t had a trial yet so we’ll just wait until he’s had a trial and then I’ll decide whether I run him in the P.B. Lawrence,” Weir said.
“He’s just a really good horse and I wish I had a few more like him.”
A former Perth galloper Black Heart Bart has posted an exception sixteen wins and fourteen minors through his forty-one career starts since debuting for Vaughn Sigley in the late stages of 2013.
A standout for Weir upon debuting for the leading Victorian trainer during the 2016 Autumn Carnival, Black Heart Bart went close in both the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) and Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m), before breaking through for a maiden win at the highest level in the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m).
Resuming for a smart win in the Memsie Stakes, Black Heart Bart finished second behind stablemate Palentino in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) before returning to the winner’s stall in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m).
Second to Winx in the Group 1 Ladbrokes Stakes (2000m) before failing to fire in the Cox Plate (2040m), the gelding out of Sister Theresa resumed this year for second in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) before posting consecutive wins in the Group 1 Ladbrokes CF Orr Stakes (1400m) and Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m).
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