Peter Moody’s supreme mare Black Caviar has firmed into a price just one cent short of the record for an odds-on favourite in an Australian Group race following the withdrawal of Balavan from today’s 2011 Schweppes Stakes, meaning the undefeated turf queen will face just three rivals in her attempt to secure career win No. 15.
Black Caviar is at $1.03 to win the 2011 Schweppes Stakes
Holding the record for the shortest-priced favourite in Australian racing history is the immortal Ajax, who after winning an unprecedented 18 straight metro races during 1938 – 39, jumped at 40/1 – equivalent to $1.02 in today’s terms – in the 1939 Rawson Stakes.
Ajax got rolled that day, running second to Spear Chief.
Today at Moonee Valley’s Cox Plate Day, Black Caviar is set to draw a bumper crowd of racing fans and punters when she contests the $300,000 Group 2 Schweppes Stakes (1200m) at 3:20pm (AEDST).
Originally a field of five were engaged for the sprint feature, defending champion Black Caviar opening at a quote of $1.04 at bookies around Australia including our preferred, Luxbet.
But after Caulfield-based trainer Tony Vasil withdrew his Schweppes Stakes hope this morning, #4 Balavan, Black Caviar has now firmed into $1.03.
These kind of odds make Black Caviar all but unbackable for the Win, who would take such a short price?
The answer is thousands, as never before has there been one like Black Caviar and unlike Ajax, Moody’s superstar will not get beaten today.
If $1.03 is simply too short for you, Luxbet have a whole range of exclusive Black Caviar Horse Racing Specials open on this afternoon’s Schweppes Stakes including the margin she will win by and whether the race record will be broken.
There is also the Moonee Valley Special Race 5 Odds: Black Caviar Out markets at Luxbet, offering odds on the field without the raging favourite.
In these markets former Australian Horse of the Year, returning veteran Scenic Blast is the $2 favourite followed by known barrier rogue Here De Angels and Moody’s stablemate Doubtful Jack both at $3.50.
Check out all the Schweppes Stakes odds and options now open at Luxbet, as well as those for the other Cox Plate Day races including the marquee event – Race 8 the $3 million Group 1 Tatts Cox Plate (2040m) at 5:35pm (AESDT) where Helmet remains the firm $3.30 favourite.
Remember, new customers at Luxbet this spring need only make a minimum deposit of $25 and quote the code BONUSBET to get up to $500 as a bonus bet!
2011 Schweppes Stakes Field & Odds Update
| # | Form | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Hcp. Rating | Odds* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0X0X42533X | SCENIC BLAST | Daniel Morton | Steven Arnold | 3 | 58.5kg | 112 | $21 Luxbet |
| 2 | 12X0LX79X4 | HERE DE ANGELS | Wendy Roche | Ms Clare Lindop | 5 | 58.5kg | 106 | $81 Luxbet |
| 3 | 0X15750X01 | DOUBTFUL JACK | Peter G Moody | Dwayne Dunn | 1 | 58.5kg | 103 | $41 Luxbet |
| 4 | 10X2961014 | BALAVAN | Tony Vasil | Nash Rawiller | 2 | 58.5kg | 94 | - |
| 5 | 11X11111X1 | BLACK CAVIAR | Peter G Moody | Luke Nolen | 4 | 56.5kg | 128 | $1.03 Luxbet |
*Fixed Win Odds subject to change – see Luxbet for updates and to bet now
