Record breaking Victorian horseman Darren Weir has confirmed the all-in favourite for Saturdayâs All Aged Stakes 2017 wonât be accepted into the race with Black Heart Bart focusing on a The Goodwood title defence.
Le Romain (pictured) is new favourite for Saturday’s 2017 All Aged Stakes after the confirmed non-acceptances of Black Heart Bart. Photo: Steve Hart.
Nominations for the $600,000 Group 1 Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick closed on Monday with Black Heart Bart the standout of the 18 early entries.
Last seen completing Caulfieldâs CF Orr â Futurity Stakes Group 1 double over the same distance, the Blackfriars six-year-old was top-fancy in pre-field All Aged Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au.
Weir however confirmed on Tuesday morning the champion galloper would not be racing in Sydney on the weekend due to the likely wet track.
Instead Black Heart Bart will be saved for a shot at back-to-back Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) wins in Adelaide next month.
Black Heart Bart ran fourth in the 2015 The Goodwood as the beaten favourite before atoning last Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival with a victory over Under The Louvre in the sprint classic.
The Goodwood 2017 is worth double the prize money of last season offer $1 million in stakes and runs at Morphettville Racecourse on May 20.
Weir gave Black Heart Bart a lead-up The Goodwood run in the All Aged Stakes twelve months ago, the horse finishing runner-up to winning filly English.
This year though the versatile runner wonât get the chance to go one better due to the Heavy track conditions in Sydney.
Despite a disruption to his lead-up, Black Heart Bart remains the firm $3.20 favourite in early The Goodwood betting markets.
Weir meanwhile could still be represented in the All Aged Stakes field after he nominated for a further four horses from the stable including last start William Reid Stakes runner-up Hellbent.
The I Am Invincible four-year-old is at $10 in futures All Aged Stakes betting, while stablemate Voodoo Lad is at a shorter $8 to improve on a last start fifth to Chautauqua in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m).
The reigning All Aged Stakes winner English ran second in the TJ Smith Stakes, but has to pass a vet check on Thursday before being cleared to run after being treated for a minor laceration to her leg this week.
New favourite in the all-in All Aged Stakes odds just ahead of the Gai Waterhouse-trained mare English ($4.40) is the Kris Lees-trained Le Romain ($4.20) out to atone for his fifteenth in the Doncaster Mile on April 1.
Check out the full All Aged Stakes 2017 odds for Saturday and early The Goodwood race betting markets for next month now at Ladbrokes.com.au.