News

Black Caviar the standout

5th Aug 2011

ANZ Bloodstock News - Darryl Sherer - Friday, 5 August 2011

Having looked at the Juveniles and Three-Year-Olds, in two ways the Older horses has been the easiest, writes Darryl Sherer.

Two horses dominated the last season and in many ways they are completely different. Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) dominated the sprinters, So You Think (High Chaparral) was the dominant middle-distance runner.

And as one was as dominant in her sphere then the other was as dominant in his.

From a handicapping point of view however there can be little doubt that Black Caviar’s performance in the Newmarket Handicap (Gr 1, 1200m) was the performance of the season.

Black Caviar [133] made it 10 straight wins when defeating last year’s Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Crystal Lily (Stratum) by three lengths clocking 1:07.36, just outside Iglesia’s 1:07.16 1200m course record, and carried the biggest Newmarket winning weight since Shaftesbury Avenue (Salieri) won with 58kg in 1991. Black Caviar, under 58kg, set a modern-day weight-carrying record for a mare, surpassing the 56.5kg carried by Maybe Mahal (Maybe Lad) in 1978.

So You Think was equally as dominant, wining his first five starts – all at weight-for-age – before finishing a gallant third in the Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m). So You Think [131] won the Memsie, Underwood, Caulfield, W S Cox Plate and L K S MacKinnon Stakes without once ever looking likely to be beaten.

It was said afterwards by many that So You Think ‘failed to stay’. We disagree. So You Think ran the 3200 metres out strongly, he was beaten by two superior stayers on the day. That he could show that degree of stamina after the speed shown over 2000m marks him down as a special horse, as his subsequent Group 1 wins in Ireland and England have shown.

To try and separate the pair is difficult but we have Black Caviar ahead. The winning sequence is not the prime reason, weight carried under handicap conditions and the manner of victory were the decisive factors. In any other year So You Think would be lauded as the best horses seen for some time. He just has the misfortune of being around in the same season as Black Caviar.

In the Melbourne Cup he ran his heart out, striking the front 300m out before being run out of it by Americain [124] (Dynaformer) and then Maluckyday [123] (Zabeel).

Older horses Rating | Horse | Breeding | Trainer : ---- | ----------------- | -------------------------------------------- | -------------- : 133 | Black Caviar (Aus) 4 m | Bel Esprit (Aus) - Helsinge (Aus), by Desert Sun (GB) | Peter Moody 131 | So You Think (NZ) 4 h | High Chaparral (Ire) - Triassic (NZ), by Tights (USA) | Bart Cummings 127 | Hay List (Aus) 5 g | Statue Of Liberty (USA) - Sing Hallelujah (Aus), by Is It True (USA) | John McNair 126 | More Joyous (NZ) 4 m | More Than Ready (USA) - Sunday Joy (Aus), by Sunday Silence (USA) | Gai Waterhouse 126 | Shocking (Aus) 5 h | Street Cry (Ire) - Maria Di Castiglia (GB), by Danehill (USA) | Mark Kavanagh 125 | Whobegotyou (Aus) 5 g | Street Cry (Ire) - Temple Of Peace (Jpn), by Carnegie (Ire) | Mark Kavanagh 125 | Zipping (Aus) 9 g | Danehill (USA) - Social Scene (Ire) by Grand Lodge (USA) | Robert Hickmott 124 | Americain (USA) 5 h | Dynaformer (USA) - America (Ire), by Arazi (USA) Alain de | Royer Dupre 124 | Metal Bender (NZ) 5 g | Danasinga (Aus) - Jacqwin (Aus), by Bluebird (USA) | Chris Waller 123 | Glass Harmonium (Fr) 5 h | Verglas (Ire) – Spring Symphony (Ire), by Darshaan (GB) | Mike Moroney 123 | Maluckyday (NZ) 4 g | Zabeel (NZ) - Natalie Wood (NZ), by Yachtie (NZ) | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 123 | Rangirangdoo (NZ) 6 g | Pentire (GB) – She Wishes (NZ), by Kenfair (Aus) | Chris Waller 123 | Theseo (Aus) 7 g | Danewin (Aus) - Ozone Sand (USA), by L’Enjoleur (USA) | Gai Waterhouse 122 | Danleigh (Aus) 7 g | Mujahid (USA) - Graceful Lily (Aus), by Dr Grace (NZ) | Chris Waller 122 | Descarado (NZ) 4 g | High Chaparral (Ire) - Karamea Lady (NZ), by Lord Ballina (Aus) | Gai Waterhouse 122 | Heart Of Dreams (Aus) 5 g | Show A Heart (Aus) - Academy Of Dreams (Aus), by Royal Academy (USA) | Mick Price 122 | Kingdom Of Fife (GB) 6 g | Kingmambo (USA) – Fairy Godmother (GB), by Fairy King (USA) | Chris Waller 122 | Love Conquers All (Aus) 4 h | Mossman (Aus) – She’s A Meanie (NZ), by Prince Salieri (Aus) | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 122 | Shoot Out (Aus) 4 g | High Chaparral (Ire) - Pentamerous (NZ), by Pentire (GB) | John Wallace 121 | Melito (Aus) 4 m | Redoute’s Choice (Aus) – Cloister (Aus), by Marauding (NZ) | Gerald Ryan 121 | Triple Honour (NZ) 6 g | Honours List (Ire) - Myrrh (NZ), by Nassipour (USA) | Chris Waller 120 | Beaded (Aus) 5 m | Lonhro (Aus) – Subtle (Aus), by Night Shift (USA) | Peter Snowden 120 | Black Piranha (Aus) 7 g | Clang (Aus) - Jazztrack (Aus), by Distinctly North (USA) | Con Karakatsanis 120 | Scenic Shot (Aus) 8 g | Scenic (Ire) – Sweepshot (Aus), by Dr Grace (NZ) | Dan Morton 120 | Wall Street (NZ) 6 g | Montjeu (Ire) - Villa Wanda (GB), by Grand Lodge (USA) | Jeff Lynds