BRC Chief Humbled to Have Black Caviar

With Black Caviar in town there’s an energy buzzing around Brisbane that has racing fans in a frenzy, but it is not just the general public ready to get on the Black Caviar bandwagon, Peter Moody’s champion mare also has the Brisbane Racing Club staff all aflutter.

Black Caviar is drawing plenty of attention ahead of her Brisbane debut this Saturday

Having blitzed countless records with her 12 undefeated starts to date, four-year-old Black Caviar already boasts five Group 1 victories and over $3.2 million in prize money – feats only dreamed about by horses twice her age.

Still, the horse rated the best in the world remains majestically calm ahead of her Queensland debut in the BTC Cup on Saturday, a feeling not shared by the eager Queenslanders ready for Black Caviar mania to hit fever pitch.

One man admittedly in awe of the ability and aura of Black Caviar is Brisbane Racing Club chief operating officer Darren Condon.

BTC Cup Day, or Racefest, officially kicks off the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival and already corporate bookings for the meeting are up 25 per cent on last year with everyone wanting some caviar and champagne for themselves.

“We’re expecting at least three to four times the size of the crowd we got last year,” Condon said.

“To have a race horse of her calibre at Doomben is very humbling – she’s definitely a once in a generation horse.

“The last time we had a horse of her calibre in Brisbane depends on who you ask and what age they are, but it’s similar to Kingston Town.”

Kingston Town was the 1979 – 80 Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year who graced Brisbane with his presence back in 1980 when winning the Queensland Derby.

For Black Caviar to be mentioned in the same breath as the age-old champions like Kingston Town is a rare and beautiful achievement of its own.

Moody’s decision to bring Black Caviar to Brisbane has had a wonderful affect for Queensland Racing and Tourism as a whole, and Condon mentioned that they were making a special effort to ensure her stay was top class.

“She’s a bit of a diva in that sense,” Condon said of Black Caviar who is likely unaware of the celebrity status she has.

“She gets a purpose-built compound and I know her trainer Peter Moody has a full team of people working with her.

“As for special grooming, well, I’ve only seen her twice since and she’s been looking tip-top.”