By Daithi Harvey
Ascot Racecourse in Perth will host the final Australian Group 1 race of 2017 on Saturday, the G1 Kingston Town Classic with a purse of A$1-million up for grabs. Heading the market for the current field of 15 runners is Black Heart Bart (Aus) (Blackfriars {Aus}) and despite being winless in seven starts since taking the G1 Futurity S. at Caulfield in February, Darren Weir's five-time Group 1 winner recently showed he is well capable of adding to that tally when just touched off by the re-opposing Great Shot (Aus) (Magnus {Aus}) in the G1 Railway S. over a mile at Ascot Nov. 25. Tom Melbourne (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}), who finished just a head behind Black Heart Bart last time again features in the field as he continues his quest win his first Group 1. Trainer James Cummings is closing in on a century of winners for Godolphin since taking over as head trainer in July and he will be hoping to double his Group 1 tally for Godolphin on Saturday with Its Somewhat (Dynaformer). The 6-year-old landed a hat trick of Group races earlier in the year headed by the G1 Doncaster Mile at Randwick in April and he suggested a similar performance might be in the offing when third to Tosen Stardom (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 Emirates S. at Flemington Nov. 11.
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