Black Caviar joined some of the greats of the Australian turf when the mighty mare was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall Of Fame at a gala function at the Grand Hyatt in Melbourne last night.
Black Caviar winning the Black Caviar Lightning. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Acknowledged as the world’s best sprinter, the undefeated Black Caviar has joined champions Carbine, Phar Lap, Bernborough, Tulloch and Kingston Town, who were inaugural inductees in 2001 as well as the great jockeys Scobie Breasley and George Moore and legendary trainers Bart Cummings and Tommy Smith.
Black Caviar, who took her record to twenty-three wins from as many starts by winning the race the Victoria Racing Club named after her, the Group 1 $500,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington joins other great mares of recent times, dual Cox Plate winner Sunline and triple Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva.
Managing owner Neil Werrett was on hand with the great mare’s proud group of owners and said that it was a team effort which has seen Black Caviar achieve the highest status in Australian racing, praising trainer Peter Moody and jockey Luke Nolen.
“We have been very lucky as owners and very honoured,” Werrett said.
“None of this could have happened without the horse, jockey and trainer.
“We are very lucky to have somebody in charge of her like Peter.
“It is an honour being with horses such as Tulloch and Kingtson Town.”
Moody put Black Caviar on the world stage and ventured to England last year to take out the Group 1 £500,000 The Diamond Jubilee Stakes (6 furlongs) at Royal Ascot on June 23 in front of Her Majesty the Queen.
Chairman of the Australian Hall Of Fame Bob Charley said that his committee went against policy and inducted Black Caviar in the Hall Of Fame even though she was still racing, replicating the induction of Sunline in 2002 while great Kiwi mare was still competing at the highest level.
Last night Black Caviar was one of four horses inducted into the Hall Of Fame with Australia’s greatest jumper Crisp, Melbourne Cup winner Delta and champion stallion Star Kingdom who sired the first five Golden Slipper winners, starting with Todman in 1957.
Also recognised for his high achievements in the training ranks was the late Bruce McLachlan who won sixteen Brisbane training premierships starting in the late 1970s as well as numerous Group 1 races including the 2009 Golden Slipper with Phelan Ready when training in partnership with his son Jason.
Geoff Lane, champion Victorian apprentice during the 1950s and Hugh “Hughie” Cairns, who was the first jockey to win the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup in the same year were also inducted.
And three associates to be inducted were renowned Sydney farrier Albert O’Cass, leading South Australian bloodstock agent and racing administrator David Coles and Sir George Julius, the inventor of the electronic totalisator.
