Makybe Diva Stakes 2016: Darren Weir admits heavy going a concern for favourite Black Heart Bart

DARREN Weir is hoping the predicted rain won’t result in the Flemington track being downgraded to heavy for Saturday’s Makybe Diva Stakes.

DARREN Weir is hoping the predicted rain won’t result in the Flemington track being downgraded to heavy for Saturday’s Makybe Diva Stakes.

Weir will saddle up hot ­favourite Black Heart Bart as well as Palentino and Melbourne Cup winner Prince Of ­Penzance.

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“The rain would be a bit of a worry. He (Black Heart Bart) handles the slow, but I don’t know about the heavy,” Weir said.

Black Heart Bart has had one start on a heavy track — when, trained by Vaughn ­Sigley in Western Australia, he finished a well-beaten ninth in last ­December’s 1800m Kingston Town Classic at Ascot.

He has had one start on a slow track — a second in the 1400m All Aged Stakes at Randwick in April after his switch to Weir.

Weir went to Warrnambool on Thursday to supervise his team’s trackwork there.

He was pleased with Black Heart Bart’s condition, saying “he looks better” than when he won the 1400m Memsie Stakes first-up at Caulfield two weeks ago.

“I watched him work at the beach and he’s in great shape,” Weir said.

He said he wasn’t concerned Black Heart Bart hadn’t won over the 1600m of the Makybe Diva.

Weir was also pleased with the condition of Palentino, who he said had improved since his fifth in the Memsie, when beaten five lengths.

Brad Rawiller returns to scale after Black Heart Bart’s dominant win in the Memsie Stakes. Picture: Getty Images

“He’s getting closer to peak fitness,’’ he said. “He looked great and he’s gradually building up.”

Black Heart Bart has been $2.20 out to $2.30 with TAB fixed odds while Palentino has drifted from $5.50 to $6.

Weir said Prince Of Penzance had also benefited from his first-up effort in the ­Memsie but would still need the run on Saturday.

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The trainer said John Allen had replaced young jockey Harry Coffey on the gelding only because Coffey was ­required to ride in Adelaide.

Weir was thrilled with the condition of Tosen Stardom, who ran fourth in last Saturday’s Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley. The Japanese import will race in Saturday week’s 1600m George Main Stakes at Randwick, where he will take on Winx.

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I'm all good guys!! Just a broken nose and a slight concussion! I'm tough! Thanks to all concerned #AnotherHurdle pic.twitter.com/1LPS8j90UP

— brooke sweeney (@Brookesween) September 8, 2016

Sweeney escapes serious injury in fall

APPRENTICE Brooke Sweeney has suffered concussion and a broken nose in a race fall at Mornington.

She will spend Thursday night in Frankston Hospital but the Victorian Jockeys Association said everything else was looking clear in a promising outcome.

Sweeney posted on Twitter: “I’m all good guys!! Just a broken nose and a slight concussion! I’m tough! Thanks to all concerned.”

With AAP