'Bart' Anchors Underwood

Black Heart Bart | Bronwen Healy

Two-time Group 1 winner Black Heart Bart (Aus) (Blackfriars {Aus}), who landed this season's G1 N.Z. Bloodstock Memsie S. with 2015 G1 Melbourne Cup scorer Prince of Penzance (NZ) (Pentire {GB}) 11th at Caulfield first up Aug. 27, headlines the 1800-metre G1 Hyland Race Colours Underwood S. at Caulfield on Saturday. Runner-up in the G1 Pfd Food Services Makybe Diva S. to Palentino (Aus) (Teofilo {Ire}) Sept. 10, Black Heart Bart had several of Saturday's rivals in his wake, among them the aforementioned Prince of Penzance in an improving sixth. The hardy gelding has been no worse than second in his past eight starts, six of them at the Group 1 level.

The Kris Lees-trained Lucia Valentina (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}), thrice a winner out of the top drawer, should prove a handful, especially if the forecasted rain shows up. A winner of the G1 Longines Queen Elizabeth S. at Randwick Apr. 9, the lone mare in the field will tote only 125 pounds and finished a respectable fourth when resuming in the 1400-metre G2 Warwick S. behind the incomparable Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire) Aug. 20. Fifth in a Wyong barrier trial most recently Sept. 6, the dark bay worked in company with MG1SW Happy Trails (Aus) (Good Journey) at Caulfield Tuesday, traveling 1200 metres in just a hair over 1:05.

“She worked well within herself and Mal [Ollerton, Lees's stable foreman] was happy with how she felt,” Lees told Racing and Sports. “It's all systems go for Saturday, and the forecast of rain later this week won't do us any harm.”

Awesome Rock (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), a Group 1 winner in all but name after being disqualified and placed second after drifting in the stretch of Flemington's G1 Australian Cup Mar. 12, could also factor in the outcome. The Leon and Troy Corstens charge landed the G2 Dato' Tan Chin Nam S. at Moonee Valley Sept. 3.

Several of last season's Classic winners will also line up coming off unplaced runs, including Tavistock (NZ)-sired Kiwis Tavago (NZ), who won the G1 BMW Australian Derby, and the once-again blinkerless G1 Victoria Derby/G1 Rosehill Guineas victor Tarzino (NZ), as well as G1 Ubet South Australian Derby hero Howard Be Thy Name (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}).

 

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