Bart’s in Classic shape

BLACK Heart Bart could not be in better shape heading into the final Group 1 race of the season, the Kingston Town Classic (1800m).

Darren Weir made his assessment after watching the seven-year-old gelding gallop at Lindsay Smith’s training property at Casuarina, 40km south of Perth yesterday.

“Lindsey Smith gave him his tick of approval. That’ll do me,” Weir said.

Black Heart Bart is $3.50 favourite for Saturday’s race despite going down in a photo in the Railway Stakes 11 days ago to Great Shot.

“I thought he ran terrific in the Railway Stakes and he had every chance. He just didn’t get the bob in at the right time,” Weir said.

“Weight-for-age and a step up in trip will suit him. I’m looking forward to seeing him run.

“That last run just brought him on a little bit more. He’s also benefited from another fortnight at Lindsey’s.”

Weir said it was Smith who influenced him to build his training property at Maldon with the deep sand training track.

“I’m so lucky to have Lindsey Smith’s place to use. The horses go to another fitness level and Black Heart Bart is very sound and well,” he said.

“I came over for a look last summer and Lindsey told me I could train Stratum Star and Rageese from there. I saw how well the deep sand worked and I tried to replicate this at Maldon.”

Weir said Black Heart Bart had suffered with concussion in his hoofs but training him at Maldon and then at Smith’s place had worked.

He said they could not use deep sand training as much as they did at Warrnambool due to the restrictions to the beach for training.

The other horse he took to Perth was Ulmann, who finished eighth in the Railway Stakes.

Weir elected not to run Ulmann in the Kingston Town as he believes he would be better suited in the Scahill Stakes (1400m) on December 15.