Peter Moody’s superstar Black Caviar’s arrival back in Melbourne has been put back twenty-four hours due to her flight from London being delayed.
Black Caviar's flight from London has been delayed - photo © Sarah Ebbett
Black Caviar proved herself on the international stage that she is the best sprinter in the world in winning the Group 1 £500,000 The Diamond Jubilee Stakes (6 furlongs) at Royal Ascot on June 23 in front of Her Majesty The Queento remain unbeaten from twenty-two starts and will now land in Melbourne just after 2am on Wednesday morning.
“Black Caviar & Voila Ici’s flight to Australia was unfortunately delayed by 24 hours so all going well they will be en route this evening,” Moody said on Twitter.
The champion sprinter will be accompanied on the flight by Italian stayer Voila Ici who was purchased by Queensland based owner John Hassler who will place the seven year old with Moody to prepare for this year’s Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.
While Black Caviar’s Spring plans haven’t been decided, Voila Ici will be aimed at the Group 1 $2.5 BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 20 and the Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 6.
Moody decide to send Black Caviar straight back to Australia without another European start when the mighty mare sustained muscle damage in her hind quarters in her courageous head win over Moonlight Cloud in the Diamond Jubilee.
Even though Black Caviar scored by the shortest margin of her twenty-two wins, Moody was ecstatic at the result and at the opportunity to meet The Queen.
“You only have to win by a quarter of an inch,” Moody said.
“That is what we were prepared to do and we got the job done.”
“It’s just an ubelievable feeling to be standing here.”
“This is something I never thought I would experience, meeting the Queen, it was quite overwhelming. As we all know, Her Majesty is a horse lover.”
“It was a meeting of the two Queens of Australia.”
Bloodstock agent Rob Roulston was responsible for acquiring Voila Ici for Hassler and said that the Italian stayer has qualified for the Cups and the dual Group 1 would be competitive in the Spring.
“He’s passed the ballot for both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups and as a dual Group 1 winner he’ll have a weight that will guarantee him a start in both races,” Roulston said.
“He’s been the best horse in Italy for the past two years and whilst he is a stallion he’s been purchased specifically to contest this year’s Cups.”
“He’s a real bulldog and is never beaten in his races,” Roulston explained.
“Whilst he’s only raced once past 2400 metres in his career, that was a win in a Group 2 at Longchamp in France over 2800 metres and he is bred to stay.”
Voila Ici has been in training with Ed Dunlop in the United Kingdom giving Moody the opportunity to continue his training at the Werribee quarantine facility before mapping out a Spring program.
“The horse is in full training now in the UK with Ed Dunlop and Peter will be in a position to continue his training whilst in quarantine at Werribee,” Rouslton added.
