Antique Belle has work cut out
Bob Peters believes a 7kg pull in the weights won't be enough for Antique Belle to turn the tables on Black Heart Bart in Sunday's APH Contractors Bunbury Stakes (1400m).
The leading breeder-owner, who races Antique Belle with his wife Sandra, is expecting Black Heart Bart to overcome the 61kg topweight in the $120,000 sprint.
Antique Belle has finished strongly in her two runs back from a let-up, running fourth in the Cyril Flower Stakes (1200m) at Ascot and third in the Pinjarra Classic (1300m). But she was unable to take advantage of carrying 3kg and 5kg less than Black Heart Bart in each race.
Black Heart Bart has won five of his past six starts and is chasing a fourth consecutive feature victory.
Trainer Vaughn Sigley has a strong hand in the Bunbury Stakes, with Pinjarra Classic runner-up Dawn Approach also set to start.
"It will be a hard job against those two," Peters said.
"Antique Belle is rated 85 and Black Heart Bart is at 104.
"He should have 9.5kg more than her, but he's got 7kg.
"Him and the other one (Dawn Approach) have the wood on her."
Antique Belle drew barrier five and will again be ridden by leading jockey William Pike.
Black Heart Bart fared well with barrier three and Dawn Approach, with 55.5kg, has nine.
There were 13 nominations for the Listed race yesterday, but the presence of Sigley's duo is likely to scare off several rivals.
Comfysofa was scratched from the Bunbury Stakes and will start in a 1400m handicap at Ascot on Saturday.
The Peters family will start Ideal Image, Regal Commander and Mississippian in Sunday's other feature, the $100,000 WA Breeders' Classic (1400m).
Prentice, the winner of last year's WA Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m), heads nominations for the race. He hasn't raced since finishing last in the Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington in November.
·Apprentice Lucy Warwick will return home next Monday after completing a six-week loan in Victoria. With limited oppor- tunities in Melbourne's strong jockey ranks, Warwick rode four provincial winners from 25 rides.
·Trainer Simon Miller paid $240,000 for a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner and stallion, Turffontein, at yesterday's Inglis Premier yearling sale in Melbourne.
The filly is by freshman sire Smart Missile. Owner Frank Fiore paid $260,000 for a Smart Missile-Maghreb colt on Monday.
"It will be a hard job ... Him and the other one (Dawn Approach) have the wood on her.""Antique Belle's owner *Bob Peters *
