Race favourite Black Heart Bart has come up trumps with gate one in Saturday’s Kingston Town Classic 2017 barrier draw.

Race favourite Black Heart Bart jumps from barrier one in the 2017 Kingston Town Classic field in Perth on Saturday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The Darren Weir-trained W.A. expat is one of 15 weight-for-age hopefuls engaged to do battle in the final elite level race down under in 2017, the Group 1 $1 million Magic Millions Kingston Town Classic (1800m) stealing the show at Ascot Racecourse.

Blackfriars seven-year-old Black Heart Bart made an eye-catching return to Perth racing when a devastatingly close first-up second in the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) on November 25.

Stepping up to 1800m at WFA after giving the kilos away under handicap conditions last time out gives the five-time Group 1 champion the advantage on the weekend.

Black Hart Bart has won over $3.9 million in career prize money but chases his first Perth Group 1 victory in the Kingston Town Classic field on the weekend.

Regular rider Brad Rawiller continues his association with the always honest galloper who drew the inside alley.

Rawiller is a dual Kingston Town Classic winning hoop having ridden the David Hayes-trained Niconero to victory for his non-consecutive wins in 2006 and 2008.

Last Perth Summer Racing Carnival Weir prepared Stratum Star for a Kingston Town Classic win from barrier one and is out to repeat the feat with Black Heart Bart in 2017.

Black Heart Bart continues to gain favour with the punters and is now into $3.30 sitting top of the Kingston Town Classic odds at Ladbrokes.com.au.

Post Kingston Town Classic barriers for 2017 there are three other single-figure hopefuls including It’s Somewhat ($5) for James Cummings and the Godolphin stable drawn out in barrier 11.

Brenton Avdulla is over in W.A. for the ride on the Dynaformer seven-year-old whose last performance was a brave third at big odds behind the Weir-trained Tosen Stardom in the Group 1 Emirates Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 11.

A subsequent Belmont barrier trial win in Perth has brought It’s Somewhat on fitness-wise, the galloper after a second Group 1 victory after success in this year’s Doncaster Mile (1600m) at $31 odds in Sydney.

Of the locally-trained hopefuls the best fancied in Kingston Town Classic betting this summer is the classy Grant & Alana Williams-trained filly Perfect Jewel ($6).

Grant Williams prepared the 2015 Kingston Town Classic winner Perfect Reflection who was also a three-year-old filly at the time of her victory.

Perfect Jewel drew midfield in barrier nine and has William Pike in the saddle again after he guided the gun daughter of Redoute’s Choice to victory in the Group 2 W.A. Guineas (1600m) on November 25.

Team Williams have a total of three runners in the Kingston Town Classic field on Saturday with Perfect Jewel joined in the line-up by roughie hopes Cosmic Storm ($101) and Royal Star ($41) drawn in barriers three and 10 respectively.

The other single-figure fancy meanwhile is the Chris Waller-trained Tom Melbourne ($8) drawn in barrier seven with Damien Oliver in the saddle.

Waller took out the Kingston Town Classic in 2014 with Moriarty who came off a lead-up third in the Railway Stakes.

That is the same form-line perennial placegetter Tom Melbourne brings into the race this season when under a quarter-length beaten in the mile classic a fortnight back.

See below for the full Kingston Town Classic 2017 field and barriers, with updated odds now available online at Ladbrokes.com.au.

2017 Kingston Town Classic Field & Barrier Draw

Ascot Racecourse – 09/12/2017