Bart Propels Blackfriars into Australian Top 5

 

Black Heart Bart led home a Group 1 quinella for Western Australia with a comprehensive victory in the Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield.

It was the third Group 1 for the son of Scenic Lodge champion Blackfriars following the Memsie Stakes and Goodwood Hcp earlier this year. He drew clear in the final furlong to defeat He or She (Kendel Star) who is by a stallion stationed at Rivercrest Park.

The Underwood’s $302,000 first prizemoney propelled Blackfriars into a Top 5 spot on the Australian sires’ premiership with earnings over $1.21 million.

In the wake of Saturday’s easy win, Black Heart Bart firmed into a $9 second-favourite for the G1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 22 behind champion mare Winx ($2.50).

“I never had any doubts about him getting 1800 metres,” trainer Darren Weir said. “The opposition is going to be stronger in the Cox Plate but he will be competitive if he runs like today.

“He’s peaking at the right time and is right up to the mark now. Winx is the best horse in the country and it will be a great clash.”

Black Heart Bart (6g Blackfriars – Sister Theresa by At Talaq) has won 14 races in 34 starts for prizemoney of $2.67 million. He was bred by Scenic Lodge and made $20,000 at the 2012 Perth Magic Millions for a Geraldton syndicate headed by Kim Renner.

“That just backs up our confidence going into today’s race,” winning jockey Brad Rawiller said. “We respect Winx – she’s a star. But we’re not shying away from the Cox Pate. Bring it on – I can’t wait!”

Black Heart Bart’s dam Sister Theresa is a half-sister to G1 New Zealand Oaks winner Savannah Success (Success Express) who foaled 2004 Cox Plate winner Savabeel (Zabeel).

Blackfriars is a Group 1 Victorian Derby winning son of Danehill and stands at Scenic Lodge for a fee of $13,200 (inc gst).

 

Hot Chocolate benefit for Blackfriars

Black Heart Bart just missed the chocolates when beaten in the G1 Makybe Diva Stakes but he can bounce back to winning form in the G1 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield next Saturday.

The Sunspeed star has helped propel his sire Blackfriars into the Australian Top 10 with progeny prizemoney of $880,000 and there’s another $300,000 on the line in the Underwood.

Black Heart Bart has been installed a $3.20 favourite ahead of Lucia Valentina ($3.80), Our Ivanhowe ($6.50), Awesome Rock ($10) and He Or She ($10).

In Perth, Chocolate Holic is the latest son of Blackfriars rising through the ranks with earnings of $128,000 since August 1. He won a Bunbury maiden in March and has come back to win four in a row at Belmont this season.

Chocolate Holic is trained Grant Williams who has prepared Group winners galore for Bob and Sandra Peters. There’s more than the usual percentage with the latest money-spinner – the 4yo gelding is a homebred for his wife Alana.

“We don’t like to over-tax them but he keeps pulling up pretty good,” Williams said after he turned the Crown Perth Open (1600m) into a benefit on Saturday. “He beat a big field here last time and is improving with every run.”

Champion jockey Willie Pike is riding in career-best form and he’s another Chocolate Holic convert. “I thought he would be better again today and he can go to the next level against decent horses.”

Alana Williams bred the gelding from World Famous (Geiger Counter) who had been reared by Chatswood Stud in Victoria for Perth-based Michael Carlile. She is from a half-sister to G2 Queen of the South Stakes winner Adraanito and LR Towton Cup winner William’s Ghost.

In addition to her interstate black-type carrying Carlile’s colours in Adelaide, Adraanito (Adraan) was runner-up in a G1 Railway Stakes and LR Hannans Hcp.

William’s Ghost (Francis Bacon) was raced by Alan Bond’s right-hand man Peter Beckwith and was later sold to Hong Kong where he won the G3 Classic Trial at Sha Tin.

Blackfriars (Danehill) tops the Scenic Lodge roster at a $12,000 service fee alongside Snippetson ($6,500), Universal Ruler ($4,500) and Dash For Cash ($3,000). All fees (plus gst). For further details, contact Jeremy Smith on 0419 943 356.

Cash In The Bank

 

Promising colt Cash Dash has been sold for $500,000 to race in Hong Kong.

The speedy son of Scenic Lodge sire Dash For Cash added a zero to his value after making $50,000 at the 2015 Capricornia Yearling Sale in Rockhampton. Part-owners Ross Donovan and Peter Malpass had set their sights on the Vo Rouge Stakes and Gold Edition Stakes at the Brisbane summer carnival before accepting the latest offer from Hong Kong.

“They took an 37 x-rays, flexed and moved every joint and hot spotted him all over,” Donovan said. “And now the money’s in the bank.”

Cash Dash (3c Dash For Cash – Letter From France by Exceed and Excel) has raced just three times for two outstanding wins after pulling up shin sore on debut. Resuming in July, he clocked some outstanding sectional times for a convincing win at Doomben before a powerful last-to-first victory in the QTIS 2YO Hcp at Sunshine Coast.

“In the end the money was just too good to refuse,” Donovan explained. “(Trainer) Steve O’Dea is disappointed to lose the horse but he fully understands the situation.

“He was bred by Jodie Anderson and she had to teach him to drink milk out of a bowl as a foal after his dam took sick. It’s a lovely story all round.”

Dash For Cash is tremendous value standing for a $3,300 (inc gst) fee at Scenic Lodge. His Adelaide stakes performer With A Bit Of Dash travels to Melbourne this Saturday and trainer Chrig Bieg has booked Damien Oliver for the Lasallian Foundation Plate (1400m) at Caulfield.