Darren Weir has revealed that star gelding Black Heart Bart is likely to be kept to distances of a mile or less when he returns to racing during the forthcoming 2017 Autumn Carnival.

Black Heart Bart will return to racing in the Group 2 Australia Stakes on January 27th. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos

A former Perth galloper, Black Heart Bart has been a strong and consistent performer throughout his entire racing career, but has undoubtedly stepped up in class and ability since transferring to Weir’s care prior to the 2016 Autumn Carnival.

Pleased with the form displayed by the son of Blackfriars in a trial on Tuesday morning, Weir told Racing Ahead that the horse will likely return to racing in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on January 27^th before following a path through the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) and Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m).

“We had an important trial day on Tuesday morning,” Weir said.

“Black Heart Bart trialled really well. He’ll probably resume in the Australia Stakes I’d say on a path towards the Orr and the Futurity.

“The owner is still confident he can run a trip, but I think we’re sticking to the 1400m or a mile as more of his go.

“He’s beautiful and sound and without doing too much, trialled quite well. We’ll have another couple of gallops between now and Friday week and hopefully he’ll run well first-up.”

Posting a number of impressive black type wins during his time under the care Vaughn Sigley in the nation’s west, Black Heart Bart was rated little chance upon debuting for Weir in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) last autumn, but produced a big late turn of foot to finish a close second to The Quarterback.

Storming home to win the Group 3 Victoria Handicap (1400m), Black Heart Bart again finished second in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) before breaking through for a maiden win at the highest level in the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) on May 21^st and ending his campaign second in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m).

Resuming in spring for a strong win in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m), Black Heart Bart placed second to stable mate Palentino in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) before claiming his third Group 1 title in the Underwood Stakes (1800m) on September 24^th.

Running second behind Winx in the Group 1 Ladbrokes Stakes (2000m), the six-year-old has not been seen at the races since failing to fire in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) on October 22^nd.