Peter Moody’s champion sprinter and the world’s highest-rated thoroughbred, Black Caviar has arrived in Sydney safe and sound ahead of her bid at an unprecedented 12th consecutive victory in the $1 million Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Black Caviar has arrived safely in Sydney for her run in the TJ Smith Stakes on Saturday
The $2.6 million earner made an overnight road trip from Melbourne to Sydney ahead of her highly anticipated interstate debut.
Black Caviar travelled in a float along with a number of Moody’s other horses including Caulfield Guineas winner Anacheeva who is set to run in the 150th AJC Australian Derby on Saturday and Willow Creek who will contest the Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m).
The float arrived at Randwick at approximately 4am on Friday morning.
“She (Black Caviar) came off the truck in good shape, had a good drink and a leak and a mouthful of tucker,” Moody told Sky Sports Radio this morning.
“Her temperature was good so we threw a saddle on her and she went out for a trot and had a good look around.”
Four-year-old Bel Esprit mare Black Caviar is the raging $1.22 favourite to take out the TJ Smith Stakes tomorrow and add a fifth Group 1 win to her ultra impressive record.
A win tomorrow will be the eighth Group 1 victory for Moody this season and the seventh elite level winning rid for jockey Luke Nolen.
Winner of last year’s Melbourne jockey’s premiership, Nolen is looking to secure back-to-back titles and is well on his way already notching up more Group 1 winning rides than Steven Arnold, Hugh Bowman and Glen Boss so far this season.
Nolen will also get a chance at dual Group 1 wins tomorrow taking the mount on Anacheeva in the Derby.
Anacheeva is rated a $26 chance at claiming an upset over Derby favourite Jimmy Choux ($2.25).
Although tomorrow is Black Caviar’s first official race the Sydney way of going, Nolen is unperturbed.
“She’s had a heap of gallops that way,” Nolen said.
“She’s been galloping that way since after the Newmarket. Every gallop she’s had since at Caulfield has been the reverse way.”
Nolen is set to join Black Caviar in Sydney when he flies in on Saturday morning.
The 2011 Darley TJ Smith Stakes is scheduled to run as Randwick Race 5 on Saturday at 2:20pm (AEST).
