In form trainer Vaughn Sigley says he can’t separate stable mates Black Heart Bart and Dawn Approach and believes race tempo will dictate their battle in the Listed Cyril Flower Stakes (1200m) at Ascot on Saturday.
Black Heart Bart resumes from a short let up and a breakthrough campaign that saw the son of Blackfriars shed his bridesmaid tag with feature wins in the Carbine Club Of WA Stakes (1400m) and Summer Scorcher (1000m).
The $300,000 stake earner, drawn in the middle of the 12 horse field for jockey Glenn Smith, will bank on anticipated top end speed before unleashing with his trademark finishing burst from behind the pack.
Dawn Approach will dash across from barrier eight and attempt to lead from start to finish, a tactic he adopted successfully when winning three times previously including the Mungrup Stud Sprint (1300m) and Miss Andretti Stakes (1200m).
“Dawn Approach will go forward but it will be interesting to see what happens because obviously Thateldo will try and get a lead,” said Sigley.
“You have Modello and even Madam Sass for that matter but Dawn Approach is a high rolling horse who just keeps running.
“If they choose to go a wee bit hard then you know what Black Heart Bart is going to do and that is come home hard.”
Sigley said Black Heart Bart, who has been brought back for a feature race treble, had benefited from a 37 day break.
“He is a clean-winded horse so these little backups doesn’t worry him at all,” said Sigley.
“He hasn’t done a great deal and it’s been a good physical and mental break.
“He has come back well and I can’t see any change in the horse whatsoever.
“His aim this time in is the Bunbury Stakes (1400m) and before that the Pinjarra Classic (1300m).
“I wanted to get one run under his belt.”
Dawn Approach will extend his campaign to a ninth start in the Cyril Flower Stakes but in an ominous warning to rivals Sigley believes the four-year-old still has plenty of fuel left in the tank.
“He is doing really well and holding his nick,” said Sigley.
“If I thought he was going to lighten off I wouldn’t hesitate to tip him out.
“If anything he looks better.”
Sigley’s stable mates have met on one prior occasion with honours going to Dawn Approach-just.
Over 1200m at Ascot a year ago Dawn Approach just hung on to ward off the fast-finishing Black Heart Bart by a short-head.
Black Heart Bart is the TAB’s $3 favourite, Dawn Approach is $4.20 and on the third line at $6 is Watermans Bay.
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