KEY POINTS:
Bart's run in the $40,000 Hawkes Bay Steeplechase at Hastings on Saturday could mark a positive end to his road to recovery.
Bart has been well beaten in three starts this year but Waikato trainer Sheryl McGlade has not been unduly concerned as the horse did not race before that for 20 months.
McGlade said Bart suffered a tendon problem and had not raced since September 2005 and in the interim had had a tendon implant operation.
"He never actually broke down but he would have," McGlade said.
Bart has been a top jumper for the Cambridge-based McGlade and her husband and training partner Roger.
Before his three starts this year, the 10-year-old gelding had a steeplechase record of 15 starts for five wins, four seconds and two thirds.
His wins include the Ellerslie features of the McGregor Grant Steeplechase and the Pakuranga Hunt Cup Steeplechase, both in 2005.
From his $110,000 in total stake earnings, $101,000 has been won in steeplechases.
Bart finished last in a steeplechase when resuming at Te Rapa in May and was beaten more than 35 lengths when sixth in the $50,000 Waikato Steeplechase at Te Rapa on May 19.
McGlade was willing to forgive Bart for those runs after his long absence from the racetrack.
"Being an older horse it takes a while to get them going," she said.
In one further outing Bart was second-last in the $30,000 McGregor Grant Steeplechase (4900m) at Ellerslie on June 4.
McGlade admitted she was initially disappointed as she watched the race. "I was a little bit, because he was challenging at the top of the hill."
But she reassessed the performance after rider Shelley Houston reported she was worried for the horse's welfare over the concluding stages.
"Shelley was a little bit concerned that he didn't feel quite right and she didn't punch him out. But we couldn't find anything wrong afterwards."
Bart was a good fourth to No Hero in the 2005 Hawkes Bay Steeplechase and McGlade was hopeful the horse could show something similar on Saturday. "I would be hopeful that he's about ready to do something."
McGlade will also be represented in the day's other feature, the $30,000 Hawkes Bay Hurdles (3100m), by Willandra Prince.
He has had four starts this year for two placings.
The first of the placings was a third to Van Winkle in the $50,000 Waikato Hurdles (3200m) at Te Rapa on May 19.
The other placing came at Tauranga last Saturday when second to Diamondsareforever in a $15,000 hurdle over 2900m.
Saturday's race will be Willandra Prince's second within eight days but McGlade believed the horse was ready for such a task.
"I think so. He's a pretty fit horse now."
She felt Willandra Prince would be hard to beat. "He's knocking on the door."
- NZPA