Multiple Group 1 winner Black Heart Bart was given the top weight of 58.5kg when weights were released today for the 2017 Group 1 $1.5m Stradbroke Handicap (1400m).
Black Heart Bart, above, has been given the top weight of 58.5kg for the Stradbroke Handicap. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
The 1400m Stradbroke Handicap is scheduled to run at Eagle Farm on June 10 but that now looks likely to change after the Queensland Oaks meeting set down for this Saturday was transferred to Doomben by Racing Queensland after the controversial Eagle Farm track performed poorly again last Saturday.
Trainer Darren Weir has announced that Black Heart Bart has been sent for a spell and wonât be competing in the Stradbroke Handicap.
âHe is off to Washpool (Lodge) this morning (Sunday) to have three weeks off and then heâll get back into it for the spring,â Weir told RSNâs Correct Weight program.
Black Heart Bart collected his first Group 1 trophy with his win in the 2016 $500,000 Darley Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville and then went on to win four more Group 1 races, all at Caulfield.
During the 2016 Melbourne Spring Carnival Black Heart Bart won the Group 1 $500,000 Memsie Stakes (1400m) and $500,000 Underwood Stakes (1800m) and then during the 2017 Melbourne Autumn Carnival added the $500,000 Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) and the $500,000 Futurity Stakes (1400m) to his Group 1 winning tally.
The absence of Black Heart Bart from the Stradbroke Handicap means the weights will have to be raised 1.5kg, meaning that the Group 1 Kingsford-Smith Cup winner Clearly Innocent will have to carry the mandatory 57kg top weight after being allocated with 55.5kg,
The Lindsay Park trained Vega Magic was also allocated 55.5kg but the 2017 Group 1 Goodwood winner has also been sent for a spell prior to being prepared for the Spring.
The Gary Moore trained Takedown was given 55kg along with Group 1 winners English from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable and 2016 Doomben 10,000 winner Music Magnate while Rebel Dane has got 54.5kg.
Takedown, English, Rebel Dane and Fell Swoop with 53.5kg are also all unlikely to run in Stradbroke Handicap.
Trainer Chris Wallerâs top three contenders for the Stradbroke Handicap are Counterattack, with 53kg, Japonisme and Religify with 52.5kg.
Betting for the Stradbroke Handicap at Ladbrokes.com.au has Clearly Innocent as the $4 favourite ahead of Counterattack at $9 and Jungle Edge at $10.
You can get all the best odds for Stradbroke Handicap at Ladbrokes.com.au.