News

Black Caviar In a Class of Her Own

7th Nov 2010

Breednet - Mark Smith - Saturday, 6 November 2010

It was billed as a match race but turned out as one horse race as the imperious Black Caviar kept her unbeaten record intact with a 4-length romp in Saturday's $750,000 Group 1 Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) at Flemington.

With Ben Melham taking over the reins from the suspended Luke Nolen, Black Caviar was always in control of the race, cruising home to capture her first Group 1 from the 3yo colt Star Witness(Starcraft) with another 2 1/4-lengths to Ortensia (Testa Rossa)

It was the eighth win without defeat for the daughter of Bel Esprit who becomes Australia's latest equine millionaire with earnings of $1,241,750.

All of a sudden, So You Think has a serious challenger to the Horse Of The Year crown. And it was the former Bart Cummings trainee that Black Caviar's trainer Peter Moody was thinking of when asked if an overseas campaign beckoned for the superstar.

Bugger the world,” Moody said. “Why can’t they come and take us on?

“We have just lost one great champion overseas so we’ll keep this one here for a while. She’ll put bums on seats if she stays unbeaten.”

“If I entertained overseas, Dubai would be very attractive option but Hong Kong would be an option this time next year but we will enjoy the autumn here.

A $210,000 purchase by Moody from the Swettenham draft at the 2008 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Black Caviar is the first foal of the Desert Sun mare Helsinge, a half-sister to Group One winner Magnus and Group Two winner Wilander.

Helsinge has a yearling colt by Casino Prince and a filly foal by Redoute's Choice who was the subjest of a recent story on Breednet (read story here).

Black Caviar becomes the second Group 1 winner for Bel Esprit following Robert Sangster Stakes (G1) winner Bel Mer.

Bel Esprit covered 251 mares last year at a fee of $16,500.