Bart set to take on Winx

WINX may look to have a lock on the Cox Plate, but great as the Chris Waller trained galloper is, record breaking trainer Darren Weir is not one to shirk the challenge of finding one to beat her when she looks to emulate the great Sunline later in the spring. Even if he dismisses his chances of turning over last year’s heroine with his customary chuckle and shrug of the shoulders.

But in the versatile and classy Black Heart Bart he certainly appears to have the sort of weaponry that could shake Winx’s battalion of supporters to the foundations – if his stamina can be stretched to 2040 metres.

Winx made an impressive return to racing last week in Sydney, and Black Heart Bart stamped his authority on his rivals in equally stylish fashion on Saturday at Caulfield in the first Group One race of the season, the Memsie Stakes.

Partnered by Brad Rawiller, the $2 favourite was one of four Weir trained runners in the 12 strong field and he showed his class emphatically, swooping inside the last 200 metres to scoot away to win by a length and a quarter from the $17 shot Rising Romance, with another Weir trained contestant, Mahuta ($8) in third place.

Distances, the direction of racing and track conditions all seem to come alike to the former Perth trained galloper, who has been with Weir for less than a year.

But in that time he has now won two Group One contests (the 1400 metre Memsie followed his triumph in the 1200 metre Goodwood in Adelaide last autumn) and run second in another three.

The six year old’s owners are keen for him to be tested against Australia’s best middle distance horses.It will be fascinating to see if the master mentor can stretch his ability to 2040 metres in what is often the highest pressure race of the year.

‘‘That’s what they want to do. Who wants to take on Winx? Someone’s got to,’’ he said.