Newmarket start for Black Caviar not ruled out

A start in the Group 1 $1m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 9 for Black Caviarhasn’t been completely ruled out after the super mare broke the 1000m track record down the Flemington straight on Saturday.

black caviar

Black Caviar in full flight winning the Black Caviar Lightning at Flemington. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

Black Caviar again showed her liking for the Flemington straight when she broke Special’s long standing record to set the new mark at 55.42s for the 1000m dash in winning the Group 1 $500,000 Black Caviar Lightning, her third Lightning win in as many years.

The world’s number one sprinter has now won eight of her twenty-three victories down the Flemington straight and this could tempt connections to take on another smart field in the Newmarket under handicap conditions.

“You never say never,” Moody said.

“I’m mindful that the Newmarket is a great race on her favourite track.”

“There’s no doubt in the world she appreciates running in a straight line because of the issues and injuries she’s had over the years.”

But trainer Peter Moody said that his undefeated Queen Of The Turf was a likely non starter again but he hasn’t completely put it out of his mind.

Racing Victoria handicapper Neil Jennings said that Black Caviar would get 61.5kg for the Newmarket in three weeks, the same weight that she received last year before connections decided not to run.

“It’s the same weight she was allocated in last year’s Newmarket when they chose not to run,” Jennings said.

Moody has a very high opinion of his Group 1 Rupert Clark Stakes winner Moment Of Change who ran second to Black Caviar in the Lightning on Saturday and Jennings said the four year old would receive 54.5kg in the Newmarket, a nine kilo turnaround from the 58.5kg he carried at weight for age.

“In actual weight difference in the Newmarket there will be seven kilos difference, but there will be a nine kilo turn-around from the Lightning,” Jennings said.

Black Caviar won the 2011 Newmarket with 58kg, creating a modern weight carrying record for a mare and Moody has kept her to weight for age contests since except for her win in the Group 1 $500,000 The Distinctive Homes Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville last May when she carried 57kg under the special weights and penalty conditions.

If Moody is to keep Black Caviar at weight for age contests, her final preparation could include the Group 1 $400,000 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on March 22 before heading to Sydney for a possible rematch with Hay List in the Group 1 $1m Darley T J Smith (1200m) at Randwick on April 13.

Black Caviar continues to attract more followers with the Victoria Racing Club posting an attendance figure of 27,047 for Saturday’s Black Caviar Lightning meeting, up 18.5% to the crowd that witnessed her Lightning win last year.

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.