Black Caviar Day at Caulfield

Melbourne Racing Club chairman Mike Symons is well on the way to finalising Black Caviar Day at Caulfield on February 2 when the world’s number sprinter is scheduled to have an exhibition gallop.

Black Caviar

Black Caviar is set to have an exhibition gallop at Caulfield. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia

Premier trainer Peter Moody said that Black Caviar is on target for her return to the racetrack in the Group 1 $500,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on February 16 and is anticipating she will be ready for a solid hit out for the public to see in two weeks.

“Peter is very confident she will be well on track for the Lightning Stakes and therefore have a track gallop with a mate,” Symons said.

“At this stage I’d say it’s about 90 percent.”

Black Caviar is back in full work following a break after returning from England where the mighty mare took her undefeated record to twenty two with her heart stopping win in the Group 1 £500,000 The Diamond Jubilee Stakes (6 furlongs) at Royal Ascot on June 23 last year.

“She’s cruising along nicely. I’m very happy,” Moody said.

Symons is planning a big day which will be Black Caviar’s final public appearance at Caulfield before she begins her national farewell tour that will see the super mare compete in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane if the tour goes to plan.

The Melbourne Racing Club will build the day around Black Caviar’s gallop in the middle of the day with Moody and jockey Luke Nolan being available to sign racebooks as well as a photo opportunity.

“We want to make it as special as it can be given it will be the last time we will see her grace the turf at Caulfield,” Symons said.

“We are working on a lot of ideas, it will be just more than a track gallop.”

“Last year she just walked around the mounting yard with a few photos. It’s going to be a lot more than that.

“We’re looking to have the gallop between race four and five or five and six so it is at the prime time of the day when the majority of people are at the races.”

Moody will also nominate Black Caviar for the Group 1 $1m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 9 and if the super mare is weighted favourably, the top trainer will consider running.

Black Caviar won the 2011 Newmarket Handicap with 58kgs but was absent last year when Hay List put up a phenomenal performance to beat Buffering by a nose with 58.5kgs.

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.