News

Champion Black Caviar adapting to Sydney way of going

6th Apr 2011

The Daily Telegraph - Ray Thomas - Wednesday, 6 April 2011

CHAMPION Black Caviar continues to fast-track her education galloping the Sydney way, with a strong workout at Caulfield yesterday.

Trainer Peter Moody has schooled Black Caviar the Sydney race direction for the last two weeks to prepare her for Saturday's $1 million T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick.

"She galloped the reverse way over half a mile [800m] and worked super," trainer Peter Moody said yesterday. "I didn't even time the gallop but she wasn't out to break any records. She came through it really well and is ready to go for Saturday."

Black Caviar had a reasonably firm track surface to gallop on at Caulfield, unlike the extremely wet conditions at Randwick yesterday morning.

Moody didn't seem overly concerned if Black Caviar has to contend with a rain-affected track on Saturday. The Randwick track surface is currently rated as slow (6).

"We've got find out one day if she handles it," he said.

The unbeaten mare is aiming for her 12th straight win and her fifth consecutive Group 1 success in the T J Smith Stakes.

There are 13 sprinters nominated to take on Black Caviar on Saturday including her stablemate, Hinchinbrook. The barrier draw will take place this morning.

Hinchinbrook has chased home the super mare at his last two starts, finishing sixth in the Newmarket Handicap and third in the William Reid Stakes.

He has been beaten an aggregate of 9 1/2 lengths by Black Caviar in those races. "He's going very well but it's a shame he has to run into Black Caviar," Moody said.

Meanwhile, Black Caviar's half-brother is one of the select lots to go under the hammer at the William Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sales at Newmarket today.

The bay colt, lot 277, is out of Helsinge, the marvellous broodmare who has produced two foals to race - the invincible Black Caviar and her younger brother Moshe, already a winner of three of his four starts.

Black Caviar and Moshe share the same stallion, Bel Esprit, but Helsinge's latest yearling is by former top sprinter and first season sire, Casino Prince. Helsinge is an unraced half-sister to Magnus, who Moody trained to win the Group 1 race The Galaxy and to finish third in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.