Black Heart Bart too good in G1 Goodwood

Darren Weir labelled Black Heart Bart the perfect horse to train following the G1 Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville.

The Blackfriars gelding sent his earnings to $1.70 million after a convincing victory in Adelaide’s feature sprint of the season.  “All his runs for me have been terrific and he deserved a Group 1,” Weir said.  “He’s a perfect horse.  He eats well, he works well, he’s very sound and he’s a good racehorse.  They’re hard to find.”

Black Heart Bart will now head to Brisbane to tackle the Group 1 Stradbroke Hcp (1400m).  “The plan all along was to come here,” Weir explained.  “It’s three weeks to the Stradbroke which is ideal.”

In three prior starts for Weir, Black Heart Bart had run seconds in the G1 Newmarket Hcp and G1 All Aged Stakes on either side of a Group 3 victory in the Victoria Hcp at Caulfield.

He firmed from $4 into $2.80 for the Goodwood although favourite punters would have been concerned when he was bailed up on the fence at the top of the straight.  “We thought the inside draw could be a problem but it was a great ride by Brad (Rawiller),” Weir said.  “Once in the clear, I knew he was going to be really strong through the line.”

The Goodwood result was the third Group 1 for Blackfriars following dual Kingston Town Classic winner Playing God.  The Scenic Lodge champion had already clinched a sixth successive WA sires’ premiership before Black Heart Bart banked another $320,000 on Saturday.

It was the second-leg of an interstate feature double for Scenic Lodge.  The Muchea nursery is also home to Snippetson who sired Snippets Land to a Listed victory in the BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben.

Blackfriars (Danehill) will stand for an unchanged service fee of $12,000 (plus gst) this year.