MV JAN 22 - RICH PICKINGS FOR BLACK CAVIAR

By Graham Potter | Saturday, January 23, 2010

The Peter Moody trained Black Caviar has rubber-stamped her top class status with another compelling win - this time in the Group 2 Australia Stakes over 1200m at Moonee Valley.

In the process Black Caviar extended her unbeaten record to five straight wins and she wrote her own piece of history by becoming the first filly to win the Australia Stakes since its inception in 1988.

The win was made even more impressive by the fact that Black Caviar was resuming in the Australia Stakes which was her first outing since suffering muscle damage in her chest when winning the Group 2 Danehill Stakes at Flemington on September 5 last year.

That injury came in Black Caviar’s fourth start, which was her second start in her second preparation.

In her two runs in her first prep, Black Caviar had scored by five lengths on debut (in her only start over 1000m) ... then by six lengths in the Listed Blue Sapphire Stakes over 1200m at Caulfield.

Black Caviar was then spelled for three-and-a-half months before picking up just where she had left off by a Listed race at Moonee Valley by four lengths. Thus she had won her first three starts by an average of a five length margin, with her capacity seemingly still untested.

Then came the run in the Danehill Stakes and the mishap which would upset her plans for the spring. On that occasion Black Caviar injured herself at the start yet still prevailed by a little over a length from her stable companion Wanted. The injury brought an end to Black Caviar’s short-term plans. She needed time to recover and she was sent to the paddock.

While Black Caviar was out of action her stable-mate Wanted, who she had beaten conclusively in spite of carrying an injury, went on to underline the Danehill Stakes form with a series of quality results.

Wanted finished fourth to Danleigh in the Group 1 Manikato, third behind Lucky Secret and Apache Cat in the Group 2 Schillachi Stakes, seventh but less than two lengths behind Headway in the Group 1 Coolmore Stakes and second, less than a length behind All Silent in the Patinack Farm Classic.

With two such strong formlines in play - her own unbeaten record and the line through Wanted - it was no wonder Black Caviar’s return was awaited with a heightened sense of anticipation!

She would not disappoint.

For the second time in her last three starts only four opponents were brave enough to turn up to do battle. Here De Angels was touted as the strongest of the opposition. He tried to give some cheek, but was quickly put in his place by Black Caviar as early as the home turn. The others were always only chasing for the minor share of the prize-money, but then they knew that would be the likely scenario before they started.

It was the win of a coming champion, if Moody can keep the big are sound. So far, those she hasn’t frightened away at final acceptances she has caned on the track. A bright future beckons.

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