Black Heart Bart Proves His Stamina With Impressive Underwood Stakes Win
Previously a winner from 1000 metres to 1400 metres, Black Heart Bart came off a strong mid-race tempo to win by two and a half lengths, going to the post in a manner to suggest he would even cope with longer distances than Saturday’s 1800 metre journey.
The marvellous six-year-old gelding is now the winner of 14 of his 34 starts, including three at Group One level and his Underwood Stakes victory took his prize money earnings to $2,672,950.
Sitting well back in third place, following a strong mid-race pace, set by The Cleaner (Savoire Vivre), Black Heart Bart dashed clear at the 200 metres before winning easily with impressive closing sectional times.
He was clocked to run his last 1000 metres in 58.05, last 800 metres in 45.74, last 600 metres in 34.01, last 400 metres in 22.72 and his final 200 metres in 11.60.
He Or She (Kendel Star) fought on quite well for a sound second but it was the third-placed Lucia Valentina (Savabeel), a three-time Group One winner who was having her second run this preparation, that really impressed On The Watch.
Lucia Valentina returned the fastest closing sectional times of the race for the last 1000 metres (57.75), last 800 metres (45.64), last 600 metres (33.96), last 400 metres (22.70) and last 200 metres (11.47).
In the final race at Caulfield, Hellbent (I Am Invincible), a recent addition to the Darren Weir stable, also returned impressive sectional times in taking out the Open Sprint (1100m).
Ridden quietly by Craig Williams, Hellbent remained in second last place in the 12-horse field to the 800 metre mark before beginning a wide move nearing the home turn.
He then came with a brilliant finish to score by just over two lengths, clocking fast times for his last 1000 metres (55.68), last 800 metres (44.37), last 600 metres (33.28) last 400 metres (21.91), final 200 metres (11.15) in a performance to suggest that Hellbent is set to progress to better things.
The feature race at Rosehill on Saturday was the Stan Fox Stakes (Gr 2, 1500m) and the Godolphin-raced colt Impending (Lonhro) showed an exceptional turn of foot in coming from back in the field to score an impressive late-closing win to defeat Divine Prophet (Choisir) by a neck.
Impending was timed to run his last 1000 metre in 57.72, last 800 metres in 45.75, last 600 metres in 33.90 with his final 200 metres in 22.32.
In the previous race, the Les Bridge-trained filly Zenalicious (Choisir) made quick progression from winning a Three-Year-Old Fillies’ Maiden Handicap (1400m) at Warwick Farm on 14 September at her fourth race start, to take out the Reginald Allen Quality (Listed, 1400m).
After being last in the nine-horse field at the 600 metres, Zenalicious came with a strong run to score by a length from the Chris Waller-trained Invincibella (I Am Invincible), and clocked most impressive times in doing so.
Zenalicious was timed to run her final 1000 metres in 56.71, last 800 metres in 45.12, last 600 metres in 33.64, last 400 metres in 22.35 with her final 200 metres in 11.23.
Those times are excellent, and Zenalicious also indicated that she would be suited to further than Saturday’s 1400 metre journey. She looks a filly with a very bright future.
And while the aforementioned races at Rosehill featured strong tempos, both the Golden Pendant (Gr 2, 1400m) and the Gloaming Stakes (Gr 3, 1800m) proved to be sprint-home affairs, making the task of those back in the field in those respective races difficult.
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Tycoon Tara (Written Tycoon) maintained her good form for her new stable in winning the Golden Pendant Stakes easily after getting away with a moderate early pace in which she clocked 49.06 (12.26 200m rate) for her first 800 metres.
She then sprinted quick times with her final 600 metres clocking 33.54, last 400 metres 21.81 and last 200 metres 11.00 to score by two lengths.
Of those back in the field, noteworthy closing times were recorded by the fifth-placed First Seal (Fastnet Rock) and sixth-placed Heavens Above (Street Cry).
First Seal, who was having her first run since April, clocked 33.47 (last 600m), 22.05 (last 400m) and 11.31 (last 200m) while Heavens Above ran 33.49 (last 600m), 21.87 (last 400m) and 11.03 (last 200m).
In the Gloaming Stakes the winner Veladero (Medaglia d’Oro) also led at a steady pace with his first 1200 metres only clocking 1:15.92 (12.65 200m rate) before dashing home in 33.32 (last 600m), 22.68 (last 400m) and 11.13 (last 200m) to score by a half neck.
The noteworthy efforts, on the clock, from back in the field being Prized Icon (More Than Ready) who got third on protest, and he was timed to sprint home in 33.91 (last 600m), 22.24 (last 400m) and 11.19 (last 200m).
While the Team Hawkes-trained Swear (Redoute’s Choice) clocked 33.56 (last 600m), 22.16 (last 400m) and 11.24 (last 200m) in making late ground from second last in the ten-horse field to finish sixth.
In the Shannon Stakes (Gr 2, 1500m), taken out by the Tim Martin-trained Moral Victory (Husson) the effort of the runner-up Caped Crusader (O’Reilly) is worth highlighting.
Caped Crusader was trapped deep and was forced to work before finding the lead at the 1000m. He then fought back really well for a good second, considering his early efforts.
Timed from the 1400 metre mark, Caped Crusader clocked 200 metre sections of 10.67, 11.08 (400m in 21.75), 11.80 (600m in 33.55), 11.76 (800m in 45.31), 11.67 (1000m in 56.98) and 11.40 to give him a 1200 metre time (from the 1400m to the 200m) of 1:08.38.