Black Caviar is set to line up in the Lightning Stakes a week after taking out the CF Orr Stakes
Champion mare Black Caviar is all set to line up at Flemington on Saturday in the Group 1 $750,000 Coolmore Lightning Stakes(1000m) chasing her nineteenth straight victory.
Senior part owner Neil Werret says he has spoken to trainer Peter Moody and all systems are go for Black Caviar to back up a week after easily taking out the Group 1 $400,000 C.F. Orr Stakes at Caulfield last Saturday.
“Pete’s a great trainer and we back him. He knows the horse as good as anyone and if there is any doubt Pete won’t be running her. If she runs she is going to be 120%,” Werret said.
“Talking to Pete and talking to Jeff (O’Connor) and talking to everyone at the stables that she is running on Saturday.”
“There is a very slim doubt that she won’t be running and then it will be how she pulls up after that for the Futurity. After that is going to depend on a flight to Dubai and flight to Ascot,”
Black Caviar was to wait two weeks after the Orr Stakes then run in the Group 1 $500,000 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 25, but Moody took everyone by surprise when he announced that he would line the unbeaten mare up in the Lightning.
Now if she is to run in the Futurity, Black Caviar will have to get through Saturday’s run to Moody’s satisfaction so as not to risk her for a tough overseas campaign.
The Golden Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at Royal Ascot in June is still Black Caviar’s major goal and a stop over for the $US2 million Golden Shaheen (1200m) on the synthetic Tapeta track at the World Cup meeting on March 31 is still a high priority.
Werret said that after the Futurity a departure for Dubai will depend on the flight arrangements and then the flight to England as well.
“The Flight is a key thing particularly with horses. There’s not a flight you can get on everyday and we are currently looking at that,” Werret said.
“And I know Pete wants to go and have a look at the training facilities at Dubai to make sure that everything will be alright for her.”
With a number of scenarios being thrown up for Black Caviar including Japan and Hong Kong, connections still haven’t ruled out a Sydney trip.
“All along we love to support Australian racing so going to Sydney is an option and it is still not ruled out, but we just want to get Ascot,” Werret said.
The Lightning on Saturday has attracted a top class field of sprinters to take on Black Caviar including old rival Hay List, three year old Foxwedge and Queenslanders Buffering, Temple Of Boom and Phelan Ready.
