Bart out to pay tribute
STAR galloper Black Heart Bart can provide an emotional postscript to an exceptionally tough week for his connections by winning today’s $ 1 million Kingston Town Classic following the sudden death of one of the part- owners Craig Delacy on Wednesday.
The super consistent seven- year- old is the $ 2.90 favourite to take out the last Group 1 of the calendar year after narrowly missing out in the Railway Stakes a fortnight ago.
Delacy’s passing has shocked all associated with the Black Heart Bart story and a win at Ascot today would provide a fitting tribute to a man who loved his racing.
“It was a shock,” Jarrod McLean, travelling foreman for Darren Weir, said yesterday after putting the finishing touches on Black Heart Bart’s preparations.
“He was only 43. He was here for the Railway and he actually sent us a Facebook message Wednesday, the day of his passing.”
Black Heart Bart’s jockey Brad Rawiller expressed his sorrow after developing a close connection with Delacy during the horse’s many successes. He said emotions would be on display in the mounting yard today, regardless of how the horse performed.
The much- loved galloper was originally bought by senior part- owner Kim Renner for $ 20,000 at the 2012 Perth Yearling Sales, with Delacy, Ian McCarthy, Arthur Psaltis and Dave Richardson joining him in the ownership group. Black Heart Bart has now won almost $ 4 million and has taken his career to a higher plane since moving to the Weir stable in Victoria.
“He is a Victorian now, but it would be great to see him win ( the Kingston Town Classic) because he is as well loved here ( in Perth) as he is back in Victoria,” McLean said. He said the stable was confident the horse was “good to go” after a trot, a canter and a quick morning.
“He has come on really well,” he said. “We were confident last time ( in the Railway, where he ran a narrow second to Great Shot), but you can only do so much at home. It was 50- something days between runs. He has taken benefit from the ( Railway) run and he hasn’t gone backwards.
“The weight- for- age really brings him into it. He has won at 1800m and there are a lot of things in his favour.”
Meanwhile, Chris Waller’s racing manager Liam Prior believes Life Less Ordinary might be the stable’s best hope from its three runners in the Kingston Town Classic, ahead of perennial bridesmaid Tom Melbourne and All Our Roads.
Speaking on TAB Radio, Prior said: “I am warming to Life Less Ordinary, he has been set for the race. We bypassed the Railway to come here, but it is still going to be a tough ask beating Black Heart Bart ( under) weight- for- age conditions.” trip to the beach yesterday