FLEM NOV 06 - BLACK CAVIAR REIGNS SUPREME

By Taron Clarke | Monday, November 8, 2010

Flemington, November 6, 2010.
Track - Dead 4. Rail - Out 9m. Penetrometer: 4.72.
Patinack Farm Classic (Group 1) Open WFA - 1200m.
Time: 1-07.96. 600m Sectional: 33.36. (Carrying 55.5kg).
1 Black Caviar; 2 Star Witness; 3 Ortensia.
Margins: 4.0.L x 2.3L

The much anticipated race of the Flemington Carnival turned out to be a one act affair when the unbeaten Black Caviar dealt a crushing blow to her six rivals in the Group 1 Patinack Farm Classic over 1200 metres down the Flemington straight.

With all the hype surrounding the supposed match race between the boom sprinter Hay List and the unchallenged Black Caviar, punters and racing purists couldn’t be blamed for feeling a little deflated when the match didn’t eventuate.

But their spirits were soon lifted when they had realised what they had just witnessed.

Was this the greatest sprinter since Vain that they had just seen scorch turf down the Flemington straight six?

Some were even spruiking the opinion that Black Caviar may be in fact the world’s greatest sprinter at the present time.

One thing we do know is that she is Australian owned and bred and will be staying put here down-under.

Black Caviar extended her winning sequence to eight unbeaten starts with her most dominant display yet.

In her third run this campaign after resounding victories at Caulfield and Moonee Valley, the Patinack Farm Classic was her first run up the Flemington straight since September 2009 when she defeated subsequent Group 1 winning colt Wanted in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes.

With regular rider Luke Nolen on the sidelines due to suspension, jockey Ben Melham took the ride and made the event a one act affair with scintillating performance that will be talked about for many years to come.

It was a memorable victory for Melham and one that provided him with his first at the highest level.

The pair stopped the clock just 0.8 outside Iglesia’s track record, but not only was the time impressive but the fashion in which she did it.

Melham only took the daughter of Bel Esprit off the bridle for a couple of strides as she shifted momentarily into top gear and put a space in her rivals.

The underrated hoop then took the time to enjoy the ride as he waved to the crowd and the pair scored a convincing victory by four lengths over Star Witness with a further two and a quarter lengths back to Ortensia in third.

Hay List, the horse most thought likely to challenge Black Caviar as the nation’s premier sprinter was clearly off his game and finished a distant sixth, twelve lengths from the sprinting queen.

Black Caviar will now spell during the early summer months with trainer Peter Moody eyeing off the early sprint races such as the Lightning and Australia Stakes.

The four-year-old mare will look to join the likes of Eye Liner, Grand Flanuer and Rancher as the winner of their first nine consecutive starts.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Peter Moody: “It's awesome isn't it? She's the best I've got. I don't know about the world I'm not worried about the rest of them.

“It's massive relief.She's had a build-up since day one and to finally crack that Group 1.

"Most horses with her ability probably would have won a Group 1 at their third or fourth start. They just haven't fallen for her with the injury and so on, but to finally get it today it's just a great relief.

“It would have been a tragedy if a horse like this went to the breeding barn without a Group 1 beside her name.

“I did expect her to win by a margin, but I wanted to see it to believe it.

“The things she can do. You just close your eyes and hope she comes back in one piece. She's just an awesome machine.

“She still looked a bit lost down the straight, didn't she? It might be silly to say she seemed lost out there on her own. It's scary to think she might go quicker around a turn.

“Whether it's walking around the stable, on the training track or in the paddock at home, she's got unbelievable brilliance. I don't think she knows she's got it and she doesn't allow for it at times which makes our heart flutter.

“Thankfully as she's matured and developed both physically and mentally she's a lot more tractable now, so it's tremendous.

“She's coming home to South Belgrave tomorrow morning … probably two or three weeks off. She'll go back to Peter Clarke at Murchison and we'll prep her for the Lightning and the Australia Stakes in the autumn.

“She's probably going to race herself out of handicaps, so you've got a nice lot of weight-for-age races and set weights. She'll probably go here (Lightning), the Valley (William Reid Stakes), the Sangster and maybe the TJ Smith or something like that.

“It’s too early to say if we will head overseas. I would think the financial attraction of Dubai would probably outweigh Europe because she is a mare, but let's enjoy it at home.

“We just lost one great horse from Australia. If the world wants to dethrone her as the world's best sprinter, let them come here and have a crack at us.”

Jockey Ben Melham: “I'm ecstatic. Just to have something to do with such a great mare like this is the biggest thrill I've had so far in racing.

“I've always ridden for Pete, on and off. Obviously Luke Nolen is his stable jockey and he does fantastic job, but I'm more than happy to fill in when he can't.

“I knew she was good, but today … horses just don't do what she did. She quickened and then when I asked her to quicken again at the furlong she lengthened again.

"The frightening part was I still wasn't near the bottom of her, I don't think.

“You can only win and win she did and she did it pretty comfortably. I'm happy.

“This is my first Group 1 and I think I cheated, but I'll take this one.

“I'm hoping this is going to kick my career along. You can't get the record if you don't get the opportunities.

"There was a bit of pressure in this ride today and I myself felt as though I handled pretty well throughout the week.

“I didn't let it get to me and I'm glad I got the job done.

“I wasn’t nervous during the race, not at all, but there was pre-nerves. I'd be lying if I said there wasn't some nerves there but that's what big-race riding's all about. I handled it alright.”

BEATEN JOCKEY FEEDBACK:
2nd – James Winks (Star Witness) – “She (Black Caviar) just broke his heart.”

3rd – Craig Williams (Ortensia) – “She ran fantastic against that quality opposition and she's got improvement to come. The winner was sensational.”

4th – Dwayne Dunn (All Silent) – “He ran super and he's back on his game.”

5th – Corey Brown (Melito) – “Ran the same as she did the other day. When I pushed the button nothing happened.”

6th – Glyn Schofield (Hay List) – “He wasn't 100 per cent today obviously. It's a pity he couldn't live up to the hype of the race.”

7th – Nash Rawiller (Eagle Falls) – “My bloke just had a bit of an off day.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Black Caviar): 1.70 out to 1.90.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT: B Melham (Black Caviar) was fined $300 for a celebratory gesture prior to the winning post.

G Schofield (Hay List) could offer no explanation for the performance of the gelding today. A subsequent veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormality and a swab sample was taken for further analysis

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