THE Darren Weir-trained Black Heart Bart continued his love affair with Caulfield winning his fourth 1,400-metre event there, three of which have been Group 1 races. Saturday’s offering was the Group 1 Futurity Stakes with the stiffest opposition coming from his stablemate, the Japanese-bred Toshen Stardom, a Deep Impact six-year-old who bled when being prepared for ‘the Championships’ in Sydney this time last year and was subsequently bought by Australian Bloodstock before being transferred to Weir.

The margin was a nose between first and second with the High Chaparral gelding Ecuador third. “He has just got a will to win, hasn’t he,” said Weir. “He just keeps building, you wouldn’t want him chasing you. What a horse.” In 13 starts for Weir, Black Heart Bart has run in 11 Group 1s, registering five wins and five seconds.