No racing fan wants to hear it but Peter Moody has said it again. Saturday’s Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) could be Black Caviar’s last race.

Black Caviar makes her much anticipated return at Flemington on Saturday. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia.

”I’ve been saying for her last four or five starts that it could be her last run and even Saturday could be her last one,” Moody told Channel Seven.

The leading Victorian trainer said it is more likely Australia’s greatest horse will have four more starts but has never minced his words when it comes to her future.

The mare comes first. That has always been the message from Moody and even a minor mishap this weekend would be enough to bring down the curtain on her glorious career.

On the eve of her first run since the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, the racing community is buzzing for Black Caviar’s return, with a crowd of 25,000 expected to pack into Flemington on Saturday.

Punters, fans and the media have run out of superlatives to describe the horse who is a legend of both Australian and world horse racing.

Equine superstar, wonder mare, super mare, queen of the turf, world’s best sprinter, the great mare, wonder from down under, equine perfection, darling of the turf and so much more.

But with the end to her career drawing closer, there still appears to be no stopping Black Caviar who will attempt to extend her phenomenal unbeaten streak to 23 this weekend.

Her aura still exists, with a lacklustre seven-horse list of rivals named to take her on, and the bookies installing her a $1.05 favourite to score her third consecutive Lightning win.