Black Heart Bart gets chance to rattle rivals in Railway Stakes

A YEAR ago trainer Vaughn Sigley was frustrated when his galloper Black Heart Bart couldn’t get a run in the Railway Stakes and had to settle for a consolation Listed win on the same program.

ascot races 7.2.2015 race 7 No. 2 Black Heart Bart ridden by Glenn Smith wins the Cyril Flower Stakes. .

A YEAR ago trainer Vaughn Sigley was frustrated when his galloper Black Heart Bart couldn’t get a run in the Railway Stakes and had to settle for a consolation Listed win on the same program.

He doesn’t have the same problem this year — Black Heart Bart is the topweight and second favourite at $4.80 for the Group 1 mile at Ascot on Saturday.

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Black Heart Bart takes on two Perth stars in Delicacy and Real Love but Sigley is undaunted.

“They’re both very good horses but he’s beaten them before,” he said.

Since last year Black Heart Bart has enjoyed eight wins and ran an unlucky fourth in the Goodwood Stakes. He’s won three starts this time in, including last start in the Lee-Steere Stakes, a race that has provided five Railway winners in the past 26 years.

Black Heart Bart hasn’t won at a distance over 1400m but Sigley didn’t see 1600m as a problem for him.

“Some people seem to think it’s a problem, but it’s not for me,” Sigley said. “When he was three he ran third over 1800m and he was doing his best work late. Also he was immature and wasn’t ready for it.”

Vaughn Sigley, left, and jockey Glenn Smith with Black Heart Bart. Picture: Darren England.

Sigley, who trains 20 horses at Lark Hill, is looking for his first Group 1 win in his 10-year training career. As a 21-year-old, Sigley rode superstar Perth sprinter Placid Ark to win the Bobbie Lewis Stakes at his final start at Flemington in 1988.

“It was exciting being on such an exciting brilliant horse but when he broke down it was devastating. He provided my high and my low in racing,” Sigley said.

Placid Ark was on the comeback trail when Sigley rode him. He won Melbourne’s 1987 sprint Triple Crown (Lightning Stakes, Oakleigh Plate and Newmarket Handicap).

He also won the Winterbottom that year — a race Sigley has two strong chances in on Saturday in defending champion Magnifisio and Dawn Approach.

Last year Magnifisio was trained by Jim Taylor, but she was transferred to Sigley in the middle of this year. Magnifisio won the Lee-Steere Stakes last year before the Winterbottom, but was second to Black Heart Bart this time around.

Sigley said the Lee-Steere Stakes was run in a quicker time than last year. “It was run a second quicker. Although she’s drawn out I don’t think it’s as strong a field,” he said.

Magnifisio is an $8.50 chance behind Buffering, who is the favourite at $3.

Sigley also has the consistent Dawn Approach in the Winterbottom Stakes, but he too has drawn poorly in barrier 15.

“He’s a good tough fast horse and he’s got form around Black Heart Bart and Magnifisio this time in,” he said.