News

Black Caviar Threatens Nijinsky's Record

15th Mar 2011

Racing And Sports - Brian Russell - Tuesday, 15 March 2011

Black Caviar's feat in winning her first 10 starts has placed the amazing mare within reach of at least equalling the superb record established by her great grand sire Nijinsky in the UK 40 years ago.

Nijinsky's great grandaughter Black Caviar added to her growing worldwide reputation with her historic win in last Saturday's Group One Newmarket Handicap at Flemington to be recognised as the first horse in Australia to be unbeaten after its first 10 races.

Her record is now one short of that set by Nijinsky, the massive bay son of Northern Dancer who carved a niche in thoroughbred history in1969-70 when he crushed the cream of Europe winning all his first 11 races.

They included the three English classics of the Two Thousand Guineas , Epsom Derby and St Leger and also the Irish Derby and Ascot King George & Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Nijinsky lost little caste when he was defeated in his remaining two career starts when second in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and the Newmarket Champion Stakes.

Honoured as Europe champion two and three-year-old and also as Horse of the Year, Nijinsky went on to be an eminent international sire and influence through his sons and daughters.

One of his sons, the imported Whiskey Road, sired Australian Horse of the Year and international Group One winner Strawberry Road.

Challenging to be his most brilliant racing son and successful sire is Coolmore's former evergreen shuttler Royal Academy.

Born when Nijinsky was 20 and his dam 17, Royal Academy is Black Caviar's paternal grandsire.

One of the leading performers in the world in his generation, Royal Academy ran seven times for four wins including the G1 Breeders' Cup Mile and the G1 Newmarket July Cup.

He also finished second in the G1 Irish Two Thousand Guineas and the G1 Haydock Ladbroke Sprint Cup.

Worldwide Royal Academy has been represented by over 1200 winners (155 SWs, 22 G1s, 25 countries) of 3700 races and $138 million.

His 1000 foals got in Australia to date have supplied 565 winners (68 SWs,16 G1s) of 1625 races and $52.2 million.

His broodmares in both hemispheres have contributed 964 winners (86 SWs) of 2600 races and $93.5 million.

Fastnet Rock and Heart Of Dreams are two Australian G1 winners out of Royal Academy mares.

Royal Academy's most brilliant performer has been Black Caviar's sire Bel Esprit, bred by Phil Gunter and sold for only $9000 at the Sydney Classic sale.

Bel Esprit won eight of his 19 starts, including the G1 Doomben 10,000, G1 Blue Diamond Stakes, Blue Diamond Prelude, Blue Diamond Preview and Maribyrnong Plate, and was second in the G1 Newmarket, G1 Caulfield Guineas, G1 Manikato Stakes and G1 Caulfield Invitation Stakes.

At stud he has produced over 200 winners (10 SWs) of 500 races and earners of $15.2 million.

Black Caviar is his standout with Saturday's Newmarket victory taking her earnings to just under $3 million. Her successes include the Lightning Stakes, Patinack Classic, Schweppes Stakes, Australia Stakes and Schillaci Stakes, all by decisive margins in brilliant times.

Bred by Melbourne businessman R. Jamieson at his Gilgai Farm and sold through neighbouring Swettenham Stud to Moody Racing for $210,000 at the Inglis Easter yearling sale, Black Caviar is bred for speed.

She is from Helsinge, an unraced daughter of the Green Desert (Danzig) sire Desert Sun and Scandinavia, a high class 2YO sprinter by Snippets.

Scandinavia is from Song Of Norway, an unraced daughter of Vain and the imported Love Song. Foaled in Denmark, Love Song was brought to Australia by David Hains, the breeder and owner of Kingston Town.

Black Caviar is a half-sister to a colt which Gilgai Farm is putting through Makybe Lodge as lot 277 at next month's Inglis Australian Easter yearling sale in Sydney.

As he is by the Flying Spur sire Casino Prince, the yearling is nearly a three-quarter brother to G1 winner Magnus.

Magnus is a half-brother by Flying Spur to Helsinge and a three-quarter brother to Wilander, a good Exceed And Excel sprinter who went to stud last spring.