Reports that Black Caviar is now “Fat Caviar” and faces a battle to lose the bulge ahead of her return to the racetrack have been quashed by trainer Peter Moody.

Black Caviar is on track for a return in the Black Caviar Lightning at Flemington on February 16. Photo by: Steven Dowden.

The Herald Sun reported this morning the super mare was 70kg over racing weight when returning to Moody’s Caulfield base last week but the leading Victorian trainer has corrected that, saying she only needs to lose 40 or 50kg to regain race day shape.

“She usually races at about 580kg and she was probably 620kg or 630kg when she came back into the stable,” Moody told Sky Racing.

“That comes off pretty quick so there’s no concerns. It’s great to see people interested in her and she’s a big girl, she’s allowed to put on a little bit of weight.”

The undisputed world’s best sprinter is being aimed to make her return in the race now named after her, the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on February 16.

The champion mare has not raced since her nail-biting win at Royal Ascot in June but Moody is confident she is on track towards making a successful comeback.

“Very pleased [with her], looking forward to the Lightning on the 16th of February. Everyone’s invited, horses and people,” Moody said.

Moody said the six-year-old is likely to have a public jump-out in late January or early February to ensure she is ready to make a return to the track.

But he warned that if anything is slightly untoward he will not hesitate to pull the pin on the daughter of Bel Esprit’s stellar career.

“She doesn’t need the practice and neither do we,” he said.

The glamour mare’s outstanding record stands at 22 unbeaten starts including 12 at Group 1 level and she boasts a prize pool of more than $6 million.