Black Heart Bart has crashed through a major prize money barrier with an effortless first-up win in the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield.
Taking his earnings past $2 million, Black Heart Bart came from midfield to claim the first Group One race of the Australian season.
It was a strongly run weight-for-age race and Black Heart Bart justified his $2 favouritism in sweeping past Rising Romance ($17) and his Darren Weir stablemate Mahuta ($8).
Jockey Brad Rawiller said the result was never in doubt as Black Heart Bart stalked the leaders before being eased out to make his run at the 400m.
“It couldn’t have worked out any better. Wow, when he let down he was just awesome,” Rawiller said.
Weir confirmed the Cox Plate would be Black Heart Bart’s spring target.
The trainer’s Melbourne Cup winner Prince Of Penzance resumed in the Memsie.
After missing the start, the stayer recovered quickly to race in seventh place before he was outsprinted in the run home over an unsuitable distance.
