Star Exhibit has been well backed at a price in PB Lawrence Stakes betting
There is an array of equine talent among trainer Darren Weir’s team and a host of the stable’s spring contenders will step out in the PB Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield.
Weir has six entries for Saturday’s 1400m race headlined by Black Heart Bart along with well-performed import Tosen Stardom, Australian Cup winner Humidor, Perth Cup winner Star Exhibit, 2015 Mackinnon Stakes winner Gailo Chop and Group-winning mare Amelie’s Star.
At least five are expected to line up.
“Tosen Stardom is the only one where the owners are yet to confirm yes or no,” Weir’s Warrnambool stable foreman Jarrod McLean said on Thursday.
Black Heart Bart is the $2.50 favourite with Crown Bet.
McLean said the gelding’s record, which includes being unbeaten over the Caulfield 1400m, speaks for itself and he’s looking forward to his return and then the Group One Memsie Stakes second-up.
“His second-up record is outstanding,” McLean said.
“There’s not much wrong with his first-up record either, but he definitely goes to the races with a bit of improvement to come.
“But you’d be a brave man to say he couldn’t win.”
McLean said Black Heart Bart had had a soft jump-out at Donald before a harder hit-out at Coleraine on Monday.
“I would say he’s probably about 90 to 95 per cent right and he’s an incredibly sound horse,” McLean said.
“He looks fantastic and if he doesn’t win on Saturday I think he’ll definitely win the Memsie.”
Tosen Stardom almost beat Black Heart Bart fresh in the Group One Futurity Stakes over the course and distance last preparation and being a stallion, McLean said the expectation would be for him to run well if he lines up.
“Tosen Stardom has had the extra trial so I’d have to say he’s a little bit fitter (than Black Heart Bart),” he said.
“But in saying that you’re taking on Black Heart Bart in his backyard.
“And the other four have all got big springs ahead.
“You just want to see them get through injury-free and be hitting the line strongly.”
McLean said Star Exhibit and Humidor are on a Caulfield Cup path and are in terrific order while he believes Gailo Chop, who has his first start for the stable on the comeback from a lengthy injury lay-off, is a potential Cox Plate horse.
Amelie’s Star could head to a Matriarch Stakes.
