Weir in the Ascot money

Confidence grows over ability of two gallopers

DARREN Weir isn’t known for his confidence before major races but he is approaching this Saturday’s Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot happy with his runners Black Heart Bart and Ulmann.

Weir pulled the plug on Black Heart Bart’s spring when he finished fifth in the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield

He described Black Heart Bart’s form as “reasonable” but pointed out he had been battling with his feet during the spring.

“His feet were troubling him so it was a balancing act but we’ve got him right and he doesn’t have a problem,” Weir said.

Weir said after the Underwood Stakes he gave him 10 days of swimming at Warrnambool and then took him to his farm at Maldon.

“They’re not machines. I don’t know whether he’s got another Group 1 in him. He’s been such a good horse and he doesn’t have to do anything more,” he said.

Black Heart Bart had four starts over spring with a second in the Memsie Stakes, thirds in the Lawrence Stakes and Makybe Diva Stakes before the Underwood Stakes.

Black Heart Bart finished fourth in the 2015 Railway Stakes when trained by Vaughn Sigley before he joined Weir’s stables where he has won five Group 1 races.

Weir said Black Heart Bart and Ulmann have both settled in well in Western Australia. They are being trained from Lindsey Smith’s training property at Casuarina.

Smith is trying for two Railway Stakes in a row with Scales Of Justice, who is $5.50 favourite alongside Black Heart Bart. Ulmann is $11 with UBET. Weir said Ulmann had been set specifically for the Railway Stakes as he was part-owned by Perth connections

“He came in late as I was aiming him at Perth. I’m happy with him,” he said.

Since joining Weir’s stables Ulmann has had one start over 1600m for a third in last year’s Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley.