Five times Group 1 winner Black Heart Bart heads a field of fifteen for the running of the 2017 Group 1 $1m Magic Millions-Kingston Town Classic (1800m) at Ascot in Perth on Saturday.

Black Heart Bart., above, heads up a field of 15 for the Kingston Town Classic at Ascot. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Black Heart Bart returned to the West were he began his career for a nose second to local Great Shot in the Group 1 $1m James Boag’s Premium Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot on November 25 and heads the betting for the Kingston Town Classic at $3.50 with Ladbrokes.com.au.

Prior to heading back to Perth for the Summer Carnival, the Darren Weir trained Black Heart Bart had raced consistently over the 2017 Melbourne Spring Carnival without finding the winner’s stall.

The Blackfriars seven year old was placed twice at Group 1 level from four Spring Carnival starts with a second to Vega Magic in the Group 1 $1m New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 2 followed by a third to stablemate Humidor in the Group 1 $750,000 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 16.

Regular rider Brad Rawiller will be free to ride Black Heart Bart in the Kingston Town Classic after he completes a careless riding suspension he received at The Valley last Friday night at midnight on December 8.

Weir was on hand to watch Black Heart Bart gallop on Saturday morning and is happy with the way the big bay gelding has progressed since the Railway Stakes.

“Bart’s good,” Weir told The West Australian.

“His work was good and Ulmann worked well, too.

“We’re fortunate enough to have Lindsey let us use his place.”

“Bart has settled in to the routine there and it’s just what he needed.”

“All thing’s being well, he’s heading into the race in good shape.”

Railway Stakes winner Great Shot will line up in the Kingston Town Classic while Sydney’s leading trainer Chris Waller will saddle up three runners, Tom Melbourne, All Our Roads and Life Less Ordinary.

The James Cummings trained It’s Somewhat will carry the Godolphin royal blue colours and has won a 1200m barrier trial at Belmont since running third behind Tosen Stardom and Happy Clapper in the Group 1 $2m Emirates Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on the last day of the four day Melbourne Cup Carnival.

The barrier draw for the 2017 Kingston Town Classic will be conducted on Tuesday December 5.

For all the latest and the best odds for the Kingston Town Classic go to Ladbrokes.com.au.

Early betting for the 2017 Kingston Classic at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.50 Black Heart Bart, $4.80 It’s Somewhat, $5.50 Perfect Jewel, $8.50 Tom Melbourne, $11 Achernar’s Star, Life Less Ordinary, $17 All Our Roads, $21 Material Man, Great Shot, $26 Pounamu, $34 Money Maher, $41 Royal Star, $51 Silverstream, Gatting, $101 Cosmic Storm.

Field for 2017 Group 1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m)