Black Heart Bart spearheaded another massive day for Ballarat trainer Darren Weir at Caulfield on Saturday.
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Black Heart Bart ($1.90 favourite) landed his fifth group 1 victory with a last-stride win in the $500,000 Futurity Stakes at Caulfield.
The former WA galloper caught stablemate Tosen Stardom ($17) right on the line.
Black Heart Bart is unbeaten in four 1400m races at Caulfield, including three at group 1 level.
Weir, who had two autumn targets for Black Heart Bart and walked away with victories in each, is yet to decided what might be the stable star’s next target.
Weir said Black Heart Bart could go to Sydney or be freshened for The Goodwood at Morphettville in May, a race he won in 2016.
"There is some thought of The Goodwood as it's gone to $1 million now and it's a quality handicap.
"He would get 59 or 59-and-a-half kilos so maybe he could freshen up for that or we may go to Sydney."
A $20,000 yearling purchase, Black Heart Bart has collected almost $3.5 million in stakes after joining Weir from Vaughn Sigley in Perth less than a year ago.
"I have to thank the previous trainer for looking after him so well," Weir said.
"He's just a great horse and to win five group 1s is unbelievable."
Craig Williams was full of praise for former Japanese galloper Tosen Stardom, which had his first start since finishing fourth in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley last spring.
"We always knew he was going to be vulnerable first up as he hadn't raced for so long against a field that had runs under their belts," Williams said.
"Take nothing away from Black Heart Bart but he'd had two runs under him and he beat me.
"That run shows me my horse is the real deal."
Meanwhile, Weir praised the toughness and ability of Stratum Star after the five-year-old notched his third-straight feature race win this campaign – all in different states.
Stratum Star ($6) held off a late charge from stablemate Humidor to add to his wins in the Group 1 Kingston Town Stakes in Perth in December and then the Magic Millions Trophy at the Gold Coast in January at his past two starts.
"Amazing, isn't it?" Weir said.
"You've got to be a tough horse to be able to do that and he's just got the best attitude. He stays sound and he loves to work and has got a good racing style."
Weir said the plan was for Stratum Star to progress to the group 1 Australian Cup, 2000m, in two weeks, which is also the aim for Humidor.
Humidor made a late lunge, but Stratum Star got home by a long head, with another long neck to The United States in third, while Caulfield Cup winner Jameka was a close fourth.
Weir said the racing career of Stratum Star, a dual group 1 winner, was probably drawing towards a close given he was a stallion prospect.
"He's a beautiful-looking horse and obviously he's not going to be around for much longer," Weir said.
"There would be a fair bit of interest now from a few studs to stand him."