The SAJC is is expecting an announcement that Black Caviar will attempt to win her twentieth straight race in Adelaide
The South Australian Jockey Club is expecting trainer Peter Moody to announce as early as tomorrow that his mighty mare Black Caviar will attempt to win her twentieth straight race in Adelaide.
A bidding war for Black Caviar’s record breaking unbeaten run surfaced last week when Moody decided to bypass the Group 1 $500,000 Cathay Pacific Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield and send the mare to the paddock for a brief rest.
Connections have finally pencilled in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at Royal Ascot in June as Black Caviar’s main overseas mission but were still to choose where she was going start before she left Australia.
This started discussions all along the eastern seaboard with the Brisbane Racing Club, the Australian Turf Club and the Melbourne Racing Club as well as the South Australian Jockey Club all putting in bids the for the right to host the appearance of the super mare.
The Group 1 $400,000 Smirnoff BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben on May 12 was one option and the Australian Turf Club is considering increasing prizemoney for the Listed $100,000 Hall Mark Stakes at Randwick on April 28 and are prepared to move the race to Rosehill on May 12 or May 26 to fit in with Moody’s plans.
The Melbourne Racing Club also threw their hat into the ring when they announced that they were willing to instigate a one off race to lure Black Caviar to have her final appearance in Victoria before heading off to England.
The Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes at Allan Scott Park Morphettville on April 28 has jumped to the head of the list and SAJC chief executive Brenton Wilkinson has flown back from Malaysia to initiate negotiations with Moody and her owners.
“I spoke to Peter’s media manager this morning and told him there’s a mad feeding frenzy around what’s going to happen,” he said yesterday.
“I mentioned the (State) Government have approached us and offered help – not necessarily money – to ensure this happens for Adelaide.”
South Australian Premier Jay Weatherrill said the government is very keen to have Black Caviar come to Adelaide for her next race start and was more than happy to assist the Jockey Club to lured her.
“We are very supportive of SAJC’s bid to bring Black Caviar to Adelaide”. “While Black Caviar racing here would be fantastic, we believe the SAJC is best placed to conduct these negotiations,” he said.
If Black Caviar was to go to Morphettville, a lot of preparation would be needed to accommodate the huge crowd which would turn out to witness her attempt at twenty straight wins.
“We think at least 40,000 would want to come but we wouldn’t be able to fit them all in,” Wilkinson said.
“All things considered we would be planning for a capacity crowd of 25,000-30,000.”
Moonee Valley, Caulfield and Flemington were all packed to the rafters when Black Caviar was on show during the Autumn Carnival with a breathtaking win in the Group 2 $200,000 Australia Stakes (1200m), and her two Group 1 wins in the $400,000 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) and the $750,000 Lightning Stakes (1000m).
