Connections of Australian racing queen Black Caviar has given up the opportunity to win a US$1m bonus with the super mare being sent to the spelling paddock and will miss the Spring.

Black Caviar

Black Caviar will miss out on the chance to claim the Global Sprint Challenge bonus - photo © Race Horse Photos Australia

And a final decision if Black Caviar will be retired to stud or come back and race in the Autumn will be made when all the owners sit down and discuss the mighty mare’s future in September.

As well as missing the huge prizemoney on offer during the Melbourne Spring Carnival, Black Caviar will miss the last race of the Global Sprint Challenge, the Group 1 HK$14m Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on December 9.

Black Caviar set herself up to be eligible for the US$1m bonus with wins in two of the Global Sprint Challenge  races, the Group 1 $750,000 Coolmore Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on February 18 and the Group 1 £500,000 The Diamond Jubilee Stakes (6 furlongs) at Royal Ascot on June 23.

Under the conditions of the Global Sprint Challenge, connections of any horse that can win three series races in three different countries will receive the US$1m bonus and Black Caviar was on the verge of collecting the bonus if she could win the Hong Kong Sprint.

But trainer Peter Moody will give Black Caviar a decent spell to recover from her injuries she sustained in her Diamond Jubilee win.

“She’s just needed time to get over her trip to England. She’s had a really busy time in the past year or so and just needs a break to get over it,” Moody said.

“She’s fine in herself and she’s recovered from her injuries, but it would be asking a lot of her to have only a couple of weeks off and then be ready for the spring.”

Moody had tentatively mapped out a Melbourne Spring program that would have included the Group 1 $500,000 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on October 26 and the Group 1 $1m Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) at Flemington on November 10.

The premiership trainer will now gather all of Black Caviar’s owners together in September and discuss the undefeated sprinting queen’s future and make a final decision if she is to race on or go to stud.

“All the owners can sit down and have a good discussion about what to do with her,” Moody said.

“We have two options. If we retire her after that meeting in September she’s still got plenty of time to go to stud. Otherwise we will give her a decent spell and bring her back for the autumn.”

If Black Caviar didn’t race again she would go to the breeding barn undefeated from twenty-two starts, having amassed $6.8 in prizemoney as well as packing every racecourse she stepped onto to overflowing.

And Black Caviar also proved her champion qualities by winning Group 1 races in Melbourne, Sydney Brisbane and Adelaide as well as her famous victory at Royal Ascot in England.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.