Black Heart Bart has been retired following another failure in Saturday’s G3 Hyperion Stakes (1600m) at Belmont.

A multiple Group 1 winner in Melbourne and Perth, he finished 26 lengths adrift of Perfect Jewel and was reported to have bled from both nostrils.  The 9yo veteran had also finished at the tail of the field last time out in the G3 Roma Cup at Ascot.

Black Heart Bart had been initially retired in 2018 but was resurrected by Lindsey Smith to cause a $101 boilover in the G1 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield.  He was purchased for $20,000 at the Perth Magic Millions and retires with a career-card of 62 starts for 17 wins and 19 placings with earnings over $4.85 million.

“The time has come to retire a true champion,” Smith said on Saturday.  “Thanks for all the wonderful memories and enjoy a well-deserved retirement!”

Black Heart Bart is the best galloper sired by Scenic Lodge champion Blackfriars and the best to emerge from Perth since sprint stars Scenic Blast, Miss Andretti & Hay List.  He deserves a more fitting farewell parading in front of a Group 1 crowd at the Ascot summer carnival rather than trooping off on a winter’s day at Belmont.

Popular around the nation, he was the subject of numerous accolades on social media;

“Great career, well done Bart”        “Enjoy retirement champ.  You did good”

“Happy retirement buddy, I owe you a carrot for your Underwood Stakes win”

“Beautiful boy but too old to keep up with the younger horses”   

“Give him a paddock and plenty of good oats. Well done, Bart!”

BLACK HEART BART