New Player joins in Black Caviar jigsaw puzzle

International horse racing consultant Mark Player agrees with trainer Peter Moody that there is a race for his champion mare Black Caviar in any country on any major race day throughout the world.

Black Caviar will be feeling comfortable on her home track at Caulfield on Saturday in the Group 1 $400,000 C.F. Orr Stakes as she steps up to 1400m for the first time.

And while connections are anxiously waiting to see their mighty mare continue her winning streak to 18, Player has devised a global program for Black Caviar.

Player, who worked for Racing Victoria as its international recruiter, has come up with a plan for Black Caviar after she completes her main mission at Royal Ascot in June.

This would include the 1400m Prix de la Foret at Longchamp, Paris, on Prix de l’Arc day in October and then onto California for the 1200m Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita in November.

“It’s a campaign where she can race all over the world and on major race days, where she can put her name up in lights,” said Player.

“They could go back to Australia after Royal Ascot, but instead they could show her off in Europe and then possibly the United States.”

Moody has already stated that there is no shortage of races for Black Caviar with suitable races up and down the eastern seaboard of Australia every week as well as in any number of overseas countries including Dubai, Europe and Hong Kong.

Player was of the opinion that a win in the 1200m Golden Shaheen on March 31 on the artificial Tapeta surface in Dubai would greatly add to Black Caviar’s resume with a win on a surface other than turf.

If Black Caviar was to race in Dubai, she would be coming up against seasoned sprinters on a foreign surface for the first time, but Player wasn’t concerned that she wouldn’t be able to handle it.

“It’s made up of sand, lots of polymer and rubber and one which was kind to horses,” he said.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.