Victoria's champion trainer Darren Weir continued his season in rampant fashion on Saturday with a one-two in Flemington's feature, the G1 Makybe Diva S., courtesy of Palentino and Black Heart Bart.
The 6-year-old runner-up has been a model of consistency of late, finishing in the first two in all seven starts in 2016. That includes his most recent success in the G1 Memsie S. on Aug. 27, in which he had Palentino five lengths behind him in fifth that day. But his younger stablemate has clearly come on for that first race in five months and used Flemington's long straight to full advantage when swooping late to deny Black Heart Bart by a length. The Hayes/Dabernig-trained He Or She was a further two lengths back in third.
Weir admitted that he was concerned his winner was still a little burly going into the race. “It was a good win although I must admit I was a little worried when I looked at him in the yard,” he said of his G1 Cox Plate hopeful. “He settled probably a pair further back than we thought, but he was settled. Mark [Zahra] gave him a beautiful ride. I knew when he got to the outside of Black Heart Bart he was a chance, I wasn't sure if he'd get past him but I knew he'd test him.”
The Chinese-owned Sun Stud, formerly known as Eliza Park International, purchased a half-share in the 4-year-old Palentino, winner of last season's G1 Australian Guineas, back in April and plans to retire him to the Victorian farm for next season.
Weir added, “He got the job done today and it's great for Sun Stud, who put a massive investment into the horse. To win another Group 1 race with him is a big plus to his future stud career–I don't think it will be his last one either. This race today was the aim and then it's on to the Cox Plate, so we'll have to sit down and work out the best way to get there.”
Saturday, Flemington, Australia
MAKYBE DIVA S.-G1, A$502,000, VRC, 9-10, 3yo/up, Open Weight For Age, 1600mT, 1:36.26, Soft.
1–PALENTINO, 58.5, c, 4, by Teofilo (Ire)
1st Dam: Palatine Hill, by Palace Music (USA)
2nd Dam: Rather Droll, by Sovereign Red (NZ)
3rd Dam: Love Divine (USA), by Droll Role (USA)
(A$85,000 Ylg 2014 MM Tasmanian Yearling Sale) O-Boom Rat
Racing, Bool Derby Boys, J Cox, Dadoco Racing, Sunday Knight,
Don't Tell Her, M Johnston, S Everett, P Bourk, T Ginnane, G
White, Mrs J Collins, M Atchison, J Whiteman; B-Mrs JL
Watson TAS; T-D K Weir; J-M Zahra; A$302,000. Lifetime
Record: 10-4-3-0, A$971,610. Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for
the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Black Heart Bart, 59.0, g, 6, Blackfriars–Sister Theresa, by At
Talaq (USA). O-K B Renner, C R Delacy, A Psaltis, I McCarthy &
Mrs D A Richardson; B-Durham Lodge Thoroughbred Stud WA;
T-D K Weir; J-D Oliver; A$90,000.
3–He or She, 59.0, g, 6, Kendel Star–Danessa, by West Point.
O-A R & Mrs B A Macalister, V T Sigley, F Brown, R C Pearson,
G Lechte, J Lechte, Seymour Bloodstock (Mgr: D Thomas), M K
Dawson, R Ford & A F M Panozzo; B-Mr VT Sigley WA; T-D & B
Hayes & T Dabernig; J-Craig Williams; A$45,000.
Margins: 1.0 len, 3.0 len, 4.0 len. Odds: 8.00, 1.05, 12.00.
Also Ran: Jacquinot Bay, Our Ivanhowe (GER), Prince of Penzance (NZ), Rising Romance (NZ), Happy Trails, Sofia Rosa (NZ), Tarzino (NZ), Alpine Eagle, Entirely Platinum (NZ), Ayers Rock.
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.
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