Veteran Black Heart Bart springs 100-1 surprise in Underwood Stakes

Another Melbourne Group 1 weight-for-age race has been won by a 100-1 shot after former winner Black Heart Bart suddenly found his best form to win the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield on Sunday.

Just 15 days after Gatting's victory in the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington at the same price, Black Heart Bart showed he was far from the finished product as a nine-year-old when he repeated his 2016 success to the disbelief of the crowd.

Black Heart Bart had been retired mid-year after some unsatisfactory trials but was given another chance by trainer Lindsey Smith and after two moderate runs to begin the spring, it was the Black Heart Bart of old as he held off luckless favourite Homesman in a thrilling finish.

The man who enjoyed the win the most was jockey Brad Rawiller, who has had a long association with the horse since he came east from Perth about five seasons ago.

So close to the horse is Rawiller, he even knocked back the chance to ride for Godolphin earlier this spring in the Memsie Stakes just to stay loyal with Black Heart Bart and his owners.

He said: "I got offered by Godolphin to ride either Alizee or Hartnell but I've been through thick and thin with this horse and I just couldn't not ride him, although at the time it was probably not the best decision.

"I've won a Golden Slipper and a Caulfield Cup and never looked like getting teary, and I am nearly in tears."

As for Lindsey Smith’s performance to back the horse up in eight days from a 1400-metre run in the Rupert Clarke Stakes?

"A master training effort," Rawiller added.

The race was a triumph for the veterans as three of the first four horses home – Black Heart Bart, Gailo Chop and Hartnell – are nine-year-olds.

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