Black Caviar’s Schweppes Stakes Odds Make History

Black Caviar

Black Caviar will be the shortest priced favourite in a Group race for half a century

Black Caviar will become the shortest priced favourite in a Group level race for half a century when she runs in this weekend’s Group 2 Schweppes Stakes at Moonee Valley.

The unbeaten superstar has overcome all rivals and every record so far in her 14 race career and it seems her opposition has all but given up.

Just four rivals will face her this weekend resulting in an opening quote not heard of in the lifetime of many punters.

$1.04 was the best you could get on the TAB and that is showing no signs of disappearing before the race jumps.

While Black Caviar has been odds on her whole career now it’s getting into the realm where even the big punters might be having second thoughts.

She was $1.07 fixed price last start in Schillaci Stakes but this weekend it will go to the next level.

The last horse to start shorter than that was in 1961 when Valerius won the Chipping Norton Stakes at just $1.03.

There is only one other horse that’s started shorter than that in Australia, that was the immortal Ajax in 1939 which jumped at a mere $1.02.

Amazingly he lost that race to Spear Chief in what has gone down as one of the most famous events in Australian racing history.

In the mind of Peter Moody though there’s little threat of that happening to Black Caviar on Saturday as she continues to tick all the right boxes.

“She certainly hasn’t gone backwards,” Moody said.

“She is in really good shape and I’m looking forward to the race.”

The horses she faces in the Schweppes Stakes are Doubtful Jack, Here De Angles, Balavan and the returning former champion Scenic Blast.

Glen Munsie form the TAB says if you’re waiting around for better odds you’re probably not going to find them..

“Black Caviar has been posted the shortest-priced favourite ever at TAB Sportsbet for a horse race at $1.04,” Munsie said.

“She is becoming Australia’s superannuation horse. People back her just to say they had a bet on her.

“Over the last two years, we have had a customer turn up on-course for the sole reason of backing Black Caviar every time she races.

“He had $28,000 on her at Caulfield to win about $2000. His parting words were ‘I’ll see you in a couple of weeks at Moonee Valley’.

“He will probably have an even bigger bet on Saturday.”

For those wondering where Phar Lap sits on the list many of his races can’t be counted because bookies simply just didn’t offer a price.

In fact Phar Lap raced 13 times with no odds offered on him to win.

Shortest-Priced Runners in Australian Group Racing History

  • $1.02 Ajax, 2nd, 1939, Rawson (Ranvet) Stakes
  • $1.03 Valerius, Won, 1961, Chipping Norton Stakes
  • $1.05 Phar Lap, Won 1930 AJC St Leger
  • $1.05 Kingston Town, Won 1980 Queensland Derby
  • $1.06 Phar Lap, Won, 1930, Cox Plate
  • $1.06 Tulloch, Won 1957 Queensland Derby
  • $1.06 Tulloch, Won 1958 Victoria Derby
  • $1.06 Gunsynd, Won 1973 Queen Elizabeth Stakes
  • $1.06 Beau Zam, Won 1988 AJC St Leger
  • $1.07 Black Caviar, Won 2011 Gr II Schillaci Stakes
  • $1.09 Black Caviar, Won, 2011 Gr I Wm Reid Stakes

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