3 minute read

Heavy rain in Victoria has caused the cancellation of the Tatura barrier trials forcing an interruption to the preparations of Black Heart Bart and Malaguerra.

The cancellation of a set of barrier trials at Tatura has forced trainer Lindsey Smith to look at alternatives with two of his stable's Group One performers.

Black Heart Bart and Malaguerra were scheduled to trial on Monday ahead of possibly running in Adelaide on Saturday in the weight-for-age Spring Stakes at Morphettville.

But heavy rain forced the cancellation of the trials, forcing Smith's hand, especially with Black Heart Bart.

A five-time Group One winner when trained by Darren Weir, Black Heart Bart needs to trial over a minimum distance of 1000m before being allowed to race again because he had been officially retired.

Black Heart Bart was entered in a 1450m-heat on Monday while Malaguerra's trial was to be over 850m.

Smith said the pair was likely to head to Cranbourne next Monday, although Malaguerra has been nominated for the Spring Stakes.

"They're not in a hurry for anything. There's nothing mapped out for them," Smith said.

"They're not flying at home so I wanted to get an idea of how they're going.

"Black Heart Bart has to go to a trial and it has to be over at least 1000 metres so there's a couple of little hiccups that have to be overcome.

"So it looks like it will have to be another week until Cranbourne."

Black Heart Bart needs to pass a specialist veterinary examination that includes a lameness check before he trials and another at least 30 minutes afterwards along with a full body scintigraphy.

Joining Malaguerra in Saturday's Spring Stakes nominations is stablemate Scales Of Justice who returned with a first-up win in the Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield last month.

Scales Of Justice is being aimed at the Group One Memsie Stakes at Caulfield.

"He's not certain to go," Smith said.

"I'll gallop him tomorrow and if he needs to have a run before the Memsie he can go over."