Peter Moody has mapped out a tentative farewell tour for Black Caviar if connections go ahead with one more campaign next Autumn.
Black Caviar could race in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in a farewell tour. Photo by: Steve Hart
Moody has given the go ahead for the undefeated champion to resume track work in the summer with the Group 1 $750,000 Coolmore Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington in February the likely starting point.
The leading trainer is keen to give racegoers in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne the chance to give Black Caviar a grand send off during her last campaign and a chance to see her extend her undefeated run of twenty-two wins.
“My dream is for her to come back in the autumn and give her a run in at least Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in a farewell tour,” Moody said.
“It would have been much easier to retire her, but I always wanted to see her finish her racing here at home.
“I’m very mindful that she’s 22-from-22 and the important thing now is to protect that record.”
Black Caviar joined Australasia’s great race-mares Sunline and Makybe Diva in winning successive Australian Racehorse of the Year awards at a gala function in Melbourne on September 16.
Moody, who took out the Champion Group 1 Trainer Award for the second year in succession with ten wins in Australia, successfully took Black Caviar to England to win the £500,000 The Diamond Jubilee Stakes (6 furlongs) at Royal Ascot on June 23 before the Queen to collect his eleventh Group 1 for last season.
“I’ve been blessed to have trained her, but I’m the one who walks behind her with a shovel,” Moody said.
“She does the rest.”
Moody sent Black Caviar straight to the spelling paddock on her return from England when the mare pulled up sore after her dramatic Royal Ascot win placing her immediate racing future in jeopardy.
But the premiership trainer later admitted that Black Caviar was showing signs that all was not well in the lead up to the Diamond Jubilee and almost scratched the mighty mare from Royal Ascot.
“I knew we were in a bit of trouble a little way out,” Moody said.
“But I thank the fact that she is the champion she is and was able to carry us all through.”
Black Caviar is the winner of twenty-two races from as many starts with eleven Group 1 victories providing her connections with $6.8 million in prizemoney and has shown all her champion qualities in recovering from her injuries.
