Black Heart Bart wins 2015 Birthday Stakes Listed $100,000 at Belmont Park (WA) 4yo+, 1200m.
Black Heart Bart had the perfect run and sat fourth, one off the rails before the turn and crept a little closer as the field approached the 400. Into the home straight and past the 300, he ranged up to the leaders and took a narrow lead.
Just short of the post but under a hard ride, he had to hold off a determined Fuchsia Bandana, who had raced in third place, on Black Heart Bart’s inner until the home straight. She found a gap but did not drive through until very late, just failing to catch the winner.
Dawn Approach was a tad slow early but soon moved forward to sit one off the rails outside the leader (Benito) until the straight and made the lead as they balanced. He fought well but the first two edged past in the dying stages.