Black Caviar chance to run at Caulfield on Saturday

Australian racegoers still might get the chance to witness super mare Black Caviar win her twentieth straight victory and overtake Gloaming and Desert Gold’s consecutive wins of nineteen.

Trainer Peter Moody has had a change of heart after initially ruling out a start in this week’s Group 1 $500,000 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, and is seriously considering backing her up for a third week in a row on Saturday.

Moody’s initial thoughts after the unbeaten champ took out the Group 1 $750,000 Coolmore Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington last Saturday so dominantly was to skip this week, but the mare has pulled up extremely well allowing Moody to expand his options.

“I looked at the clock after her Lightning win and thought, ‘She’s done enough’, but as she has matured she has developed these unbelievable recuperative powers,” he said.

“She’s pulled up extremely well, better than I imagined.”

“I’d love to see her go to her home track (Caulfield) on Saturday, but it will only be if it’s in her best interest.”

Moody will nominate Black Caviar for the Futurity today and monitor her recovery closely and decide later in the week if he is going to saddle her up three weeks in a row.

“I might have been a little rash in my line of thought straight after the race,” Moody said.

“As she matured she’s developed these unbelievable recuperative powers and she’s come through the race extremely well.”

“I’ll probably follow a similar process to last week she’ll be entered if I’m happy with her.”

“She’s the soundest she’s ever been in her career.”

Stable chiropractor Michael Bryant will also check Black Caviar to reaffirm Moody that she has no recurring problems of soft tissue trouble that has plagued her all of her career.

If Moody keeps to his initial thoughts of last Saturday and decides not to run her at Caulfield this week then it will be most unlikely that racegoers will get a chance to see Black Caviar attempt to stretch her unbeaten run to twenty in Australia.

A flight to Dubai has been booked for March 9, a day ahead of the Group 1 $1m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington ruling it out as well as the Group 1 $400,000 Power Tracker William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on March 23.

The premier trainer also has some issues to sort out when he travels to Dubai on a reconnaissance mission to check out the facilities at Meydan racecourse where Black Caviar is likely to run in the $US2 million Golden Shaheen (1200m).

Black Caviar has worn a barrier blanket in all nineteen starts as well having an attendant in with her in the starting gates.

A barrier blanket is placed on her behind the barriers before she is loaded in the gates and is attached to the structure and is left behind when she leaves the gates.

“I’ll be mentioning to both Dubai and Ascot that the barrier blanket will need to be used or they won’t see her and we will need an attendant in with her,” Moody said.

“She has an attendant in with her here. I don’t think that’s something they do in England (but) it’s certainly something I’ll be seeking.

“We won’t be going if it’s not allowed overseas.”

Moody said he was very mindful of keeping Black Caviar unbeaten and would take all possible precautions to maintain her winning streak.

 

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.