News

Black Caviar a global celebrity

10th May 2012

Daily Telegraph - Ray Thomas - Thursday, 10 May 2012

THE Black Caviar phenomenon is going global.

There are requests to write books about her, make television documentaries, commission paintings - even postage stamps are being made in her honour.

Owner Neil Werrett said the longer Black Caviar's unbeaten streak continues, the more people from all over the world are taking an interest in the champion mare.

"We can not believe the amount of inquiries we are getting from here and overseas to do things with her," Werrett said. "Every time she wins a race, it (fame) seems to get bigger.

"People all over the world are now asking to write books about her, paint her, there was a British television crew out recently to do some filming to promote her for Royal Ascot.

"It's humbling to think this mare has such a following."

This week Australia Post has released a commemorative souvenir stamp pack of Black Caviar in celebration of the world's highest-ranked sprinter winning an Australasian record 20 straight metropolitan races.

Black Caviar achieved that feat in the Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville last month and the stamp pack features snapshots of each of her 20 wins and details of the races.

The super mare is being readied to extend her perfect record to 21 wins when she contests the Group 1 $500,000 The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on Saturday.

Black Caviar is rated $1.04 and is set to start at the skinniest odds in her unbeaten career.

She has gone to the post at $1.05 in five of her past six starts but TAB Sportsbet's Glenn Munsie said he doubts the mare will ease from her current odds.

"I would say $1.04 is probably 'overs'," Munsie said.

"This is the weakest field she has ever raced against and I doubt there will be money for anything to beat her.

"I can't see her getting to $1.05 or longer."

The only horses to start shorter than Black Caviar in a feature race are Ajax, when he was famously beaten at 1/40 on ($1.02) in the 1939 Rawson Stakes, and Valerius, winner of the 1961 Chipping Norton Stakes at 1/33 on ($1.03).

Werrett said trainer Peter Moody did not have Black Caviar anywhere near fully fit when she strolled home at Morphettville two weeks ago.

"She certainly wasn't wound up and had a good blow after the race," Werrett said. "You will see a different horse on Saturday.

"Peter Moody always said to us that he had these two Adelaide races in mind for the mare before she leaves for England. She will be between 90 to 100 per cent fit for Saturday's race."

Black Caviar faces the smallest Goodwood field in the race's 133-year history. Only eight rivals are prepared to take on the champion.