As the owners of Black Caviar are searching the world looking for her first season stallion prospect, the latest World Thoroughbred Rankings has named the undefeated Queen Of The Turf the world’s top rated racehorse.
Black Caviar winning her final race in the Group 1 T J Smith Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
World Thoroughbred Rankings for the period from November 1st 2012 to April 28th placed Black Caviar on top with a 130 rating, one point ahead of North American gallopers Wise Dan (129) with Animal Kingdom and Game On Dude both on 126.
Black Caviar’s retirement was announced a few days after she took her unbeaten run to twenty-five wins with another dominant performance in taking out her second Group 1 $1m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 13.
Black Caviar is also looking to capture the title of the world’s number one sprinter again after taking the title for the last three seasons.
Connections resisted the temptation of retiring Black Caviar when she returned from England after winning the Group 1 £500,000 The Diamond Jubilee Stakes (6 furlongs) at Royal Ascot on June 23 in a tight finish.
But they were rewarded with three more Group 1 successes to surpass the great Kingston Town’s Group 1 winning record by taking her tally to fifteen with her win in the T J Smith.
The mighty mare’s other Autumn wins were the Group 1 $500,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on February 16, a race the Victoria Racing Club renamed in her honour after winning the previous two, and the Group 1 $400,000 Hacer Group William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on March 22.
Stud bound All Too Hard was the next best Australian rated horse at 122 with rival three year old Pierro not far behind on 121.
A trip to England to race at Royal Ascot is on the cards for All Too Hard with the Group 1 £250,000 The Queen Anne Stakes (1 mile) on June 18 a likely target, but co-trainer Wayne Hawkes said his start galloper could have another start in Australia before heading overseas.
“What I really wish for is a Group One mile race next Saturday,” Hawkes said.
But the Group 1 $500,000 Kirks Doomben Cup (2000m) at Doomben on May 18 or the $500,000 Inglis 3yo Guineas (1400m) at Scone on the same day could be considered for the glamour three year old.
“He could do whatever we wanted him to do,” Hawkes said.
