Black Caviar back on the racetrack is what the Victorian racing community needs to lift their spirits after the recent probes into race fixing and the drama surrounding jockey Danny Nikolic according to trainer Peter Moody.
“I’m sure the industry would love to see her back. You can see what she’s done in the last few years,” Moody said.
“You’d love to have her around at the moment to get a bit of positive publicity for the caper because there’s plenty of negative, so let’s hope that’s the case.”
Black Caviar is back in light work after her historic win at Royal Ascot in the Group 1 £500,000 The Diamond Jubilee Stakes (6 furlongs) on June 23 and the premiership trainer will decide within a month if the unbeaten super star will return to the racetrack or go to stud.
“We’re very pleased with her condition and reckon she looks superb and we’ll have her back here at Caulfield in about three weeks’ time,” Moody said.
“We all want to race her again. I think Australia wants to see her again.”
“But bearing in mind it’s never been a financial thing for the owners, we’re not going to race her for the sake of racing her. We all want to protect what she’s done. If we think she can build on it we’d love to do that.”
“I’m sure the industry would love to see her back. You can see what she’s done in the last few years.”
“You’d love to have her around at the moment to get a bit of positive publicity for the caper because there’s plenty of negative, so let’s hope that’s the case.”
“But if I feel that she doesn’t want to be here or there’s an issue with her soundness I won’t hesitate to retire her. It still gives plenty of time for the breeding season.”
The Victorian racing scene has been rocked with the news that several races are under investigation by Victoria’s Racing Integrity Commissioner for race fixing.
Two races in question are a Cranbourne race from April 20 last year won by Smoking Aces and the $100,000 2000m Victoria Cup at Caulfield in February.
And Danny Nikolic was stood down indefinitely from riding by Racing Victoria’s Chief Steward Terry Bailey at Seymour during the week after the controversial jockey allegedly spoke to Bailey in a threatening manner.
If Nikolic is unsuccessful in an appeal against the ruling, he will miss the ride on top Spring prospect Mosheen who is on a Cox Plate journey.
